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Short Report
ScienceAsia 33 (2007): 353-362 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2007.33.353
Alternative for Chromium Removal : Phytoremediation
and Biosorption with Weed Plant Species in Thailand
Pantawat Sampanpanish,a* Sutha Khaodhiar,b Wasant Pongsapich,c and Eakalak Khand
ABSTRACT: The alternatives for chromium (Cr) removal capacities by phytoremediation with weed plant species and biosorption with biomass are discussed. The plant species used in this research were Cynodon dactylon, Vetiveria nemoralis, Echinochloa colonum, Phyllanthus reticulatus, Pluchea indica and Amaranthus viridis. Phytoremediation experiments were prepared by adding hexavalent Cr [Cr(VI)] of 0, 100, 200 and 400 ppm initial concentrations to soil in pots at a nursery. Soil pH was also measured during the harvesting. The results showed that the leaves of P. indica had the highest Cr(VI) accumulation capacity of 73 mg/kg of plant on a dry weight basis on day 30 at a Cr(VI) concentration of 100 ppm. Biosorption experiments were conducted at 50 ppm initial Cr(VI) concentration and at pH levels of 2, 4, 6 and 8. Each biomass (root, stem and leaf) was added separately to the solutions. The results showed that the leaves of P. indica had the maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 51.3 mg/g biomass on a dry weight basis. According to these results the estimated cost of phytoremediation operation is cheaper than that of biosorption operation. Interestingly, the results from both of these remediation processes showed the leaves of P. indica to record the highest Cr(VI) accumulation and a maximum Cr(VI) adsorption than parts from other plants and biomasses. Thus, the cell and physical anatomy of this plant needs to be studied in greater detail in order to understand the plant attributes which led to these results.
KEYWORDS: Chromium, Phytoremediation, Biosorption, Tannery, Weed plants.
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a Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Rd., Pahtumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
b Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai
Rd., Pahtumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
c National Research Center for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
d Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA.
* Corresponding author, E-mail: pantawat.s@chula.ac.th
Received 28 Oct 2005,
Accepted 7 Feb 2007
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