The Phytoremediation of Nickel Ion-Containing Aqueous Solution By Egyptian Lotus and Cyperus Alternifolius

Abstract

Today the Phytoremediation is used as an effective and in expensive method for filtering water from contaminated areas. In this study, to absorb nickel two types of plants, Egyptian lotus and Cyprus alternifoliusare used. For this, ponds with Egyptian lotus and Cyprus alternifolius are used which nickel-ion concentrations are 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg/L and pHs are 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5. The test temperature is constant at 25oC. The best absorption after 20 days was determined for Egyptian lotus plants at a concentration of 2 ppm and pH=5.5 and for the Cyperus alternifolius plant at a concentration of 2 ppm and pH=6.5. Adsorption isotherm studies with Langmuir and Freundlich models shows that nickel-ion adsorption behavior for Cyprus alternifolius and Egyptian lotusis followed by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms respectively. Roots, leaves and stems analysis after nickel absorption with atomic absorption spectroscopy shows that for both plants roots have the most share as for Cyprus alternifolius and Egyptian lotus is 79.9 and 86.39 percent respectively.

Keywords

• phytoremediation
• nickel ion
• egyptian lotus
• cyperus alternifolius
• treatment