• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.21.1-21.7
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• 2016

Objectives The present study analyzes metal contamination in sediment of the East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar site, which is receiving a huge amount of domestic and industrial wastewater from surrounding areas. The subsequent uptake and accumulation of metals in different macrophytes are also examined in regard to their phytoremediation potential. Methods Metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) were estimated in sediment, water and different parts of the macrophytes Colocasia esculenta and Scirpus articulatus. Results The concentration of metals in sediment were, from highest to lowest, Mn ($205.0{\pm}65.5mg/kg$)>Cu ($29.9{\pm}10.2mg/kg$)>Pb ($22.7{\pm}10.3mg/kg$)>Cd ($3.7{\pm}2.2mg/kg$). The phytoaccumulation tendency of these metals showed similar trends in both native aquatic macrophyte species. The rate of accumulation of metals in roots was higher than in shoots. There were strong positive correlations (p <0.001) between soil organic carbon (OC) percentage and Mn (r =0.771), and sediment OC percentage and Pb (r=0.832). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) also showed a positive correlation (p <0.001) with Cu (r=0.721), Mn (r=0.713), and Pb (r=0.788), while correlations between sediment OC percentage and Cu (r=0.628), sediment OC percentage and Cd (r=0.559), and CEC and Cd (r=0.625) were significant at the p <0.05 level. Conclusions Bioaccumulation factor and translocation factors of these two plants revealed that S. articulatus was comparatively more efficient for phytoremediation, whereas phytostabilization potential was higher in C. esculenta.

• Carbon letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.114-122
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• 2009

Crushed, depitted peach stones were impregnated activated with 50% $H_3PO_4$ followed by pyrolysis at $500^{\circ}C$. Two activated carbons were produced, one under its own evolved gases during pyrolysis, and the second conducted with air flow throughout the carbonization stage. Physicochemical properties were investigated by several procedures; carbon yield, ash content, elemental chemical analysis, TG/DTG and FTIR spectra. Porosity characteristics were determined by the conventional $N_2$ adsorption at 77 K, and data analyzed to get the major texture parameters of surface area and pore volume. Highly developed activated carbons were obtained, essentially microporous, with slight effect of air on the porous structure. Oxygen was observed to be markedly incorporated in the carbon matrix during the air treatment process. Cation exchange capacity towards Cu (II) and Cd (II) was tested in batch single ion experimental mode, which proved to be slow and a function of carbon dose, time and initial ion concentration. Copper was up taken more favorably than cadmium, under same conditions, and adsorption of both cations was remarkably enhanced as a consequence of the air treatment procedure. Sequestration of the metal ions was explained on basis of the combined effect of the oxygen functional groups and the phosphorous-containing compounds; both contributing to the total surface acidity character.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2014

In this study, the adsorption efficiency of mixed heavy metals in aqueous solution was investigated using steel slag. Moreover, heavy-metal stabilization treatment of contaminated marine sediment was achieved using steel slag as stabilizing agents. Heavy metal adsorption was characterized using Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted well to the Langmuir model in steel slag. The adsorption uptake of heavy metals were higher in the order of $Pb^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$ > $Cu^{2+}$ > $Zn^{2+}$ > $Ni^{2+}$. The steel slage was applied for a wet-curing duration of 150 days. From the sequential extraction results, the exchangeable, carbonate, and oxides fractions of Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in sediment decreased by 13.0%, 6.0%, 1.3%, 17.0%, and 50.0%, respectively.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 2020

Reed (Phragmites spp.) is a rhizomatous plant of the Poaceae family and is known as high tolerant plant to heavy metal contaminants. This plant is widely recognized as a Cd root-accumulator, but improved heavy metal tolerance and uptake capacity are still required for phytoremediation efficiency. To enhance capacity of hyperaccumulator plants, ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) as chemical mutagen has been introduced and applied to remediation approaches. This study aimed to select EMS-mutagenized reeds representing high Cd resistance and large biomass and to investigate their ability of Cd accumulation. After 6 months cultivation of M₂ mutant reeds under Cd stress conditions (up to 1,500 µM), we discovered seven mutant individuals that showed good performances like survivorship, vitality, and high accumulation of Cd, particularly in their roots. Compared to wild type (WT) reeds as control, on average, dry weight of mutant type (MT) reeds was larger by 2 and 1.5 times in roots and shoots, respectively. In addition, these mutant plants accumulated 6 times more Cd, mostly in the roots. In particular, MT8 reeds showed the greatest ability to accumulate Cd. These results suggest that EMS mutagenesis could generate hyperaccumulator plants with enhanced Cd tolerance and biomass, thereby contributing to improvement of phytoremediation efficiency in Cd-contaminated soil or wastewater. Further studies should focus on identifying Cd tolerance mechanisms of such EMS-mutagenized plants, developing techniques for its biomass production, and investigating the practical potential of the EMS mutants for phytoremediation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.640-648
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of heavy metals [Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II)] on the growth of Rhodobacter species (Rhodobacter blasticus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Rhodobacter capsulatus) and their potential use for Cd(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) bioremoval from liquid media. The presence of toxic heavy metals prolonged the lag phase in growth and reduced biomass growth for all three Rhodobacter species at concentrations of Cd, Ni, and Zn above 10 mg/L. However, all three Rhodobacter species also had a relatively high specific growth rate against each toxic heavy metal stress test for concentrations below 20 mg/L and possessed a potential bioaccumulation ability. The removal efficiency by all strains was highest for Cd(II), followed by Ni(II), and lowest for Zn(II), with the removal efficiency of Cd(II) by Rhodobacter species being 66% or more. Among the three strains, R. blasticus showed a higher removal efficiency of Cd(II) and Ni(II) than R. capsulatus and R. sphaeroides. Results also suggest that the bio-removal processes of toxic heavy metal ions by Rhodobacter species involve both bioaccumulation (intracellular uptake) and biosorption (surface binding).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 2002

A laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted to evaluate a major metal uptake route as well as chronic toxic effects of the clam, Macoma balthica exposed to Ag and Cu contaminated sediments. Twenty five clams were exposed to the sediments contaminated with four levels of Ag $Ag(0.01-0.87\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ and $Cu(0.75-5.55\mu{mol\;g^{-1})$ for 90 days. AVS (acid volatile sulfide) concentration in the sediments, considered as major factor controlling metal geochemistry and bioavailability, was manipulated to evaluate its effects on Ag and Cu bioaccumulation in M. balthica. Following 90-d exposure, the tissue Ag and Cu in M. balthica increased linearly with the Ag and Cu concentrations in sediments extracted with 1 N HCI (SEM, simultaneously extracted metals with AVS). The bioaccumulation of Ag and Cu in M. balthica was little influenced by difference in [SEM] - [AVS] values, suggesting a minor contribution of pore water metals to bioaccumulation. Tissue Ag and Cu concentrations directly influenced on the clearance rate and glycogen content of the clams. The clams with highest tissue Ag $(1.0\pm{0.2}\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ and Cu concentrations $(2.7\pm{0.3}\;\mu{mol}\;g^{-1})$ had only 18-43% of clearance of the clams exposed to uncontaminated sediments. Similarly, glycogen content of the exposed clams had a inverse relationship with tissue Ag and Cu concentrations. These results suggest that M. balthica exposed to Ag and Cu contaminated sediments accumulates metals largely by ingestion of contaminated sediments and can display chronic effects as reduced clearance rate and glycogen content.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2004

Titanium and [titanium+Na(K)] substituted 11${\AA}$ tobermorites solids synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 180$^{\circ}C$ exhibit cation exchange properties toward heavy transition metal cations, such as Fe$^{2+},\;Zn^{2+},\;Cd^{2+}\;and/or\;Pb^{2+}$. The amount of heavy metal cations taken up by these solids was found in the order: Fe$^{2+}>Zn^{2+}>Cd^{2+}>Pb^{2+}$, and reached maximum at 10% [Ti+K]-substituted tobermorite. The total cation exchange capacity of the 10% Ti+Na (K) - substituted tobermorites synthesized here range from 71 to 89 meq/100 g, and 50-56 meq/100g for Ti-substituted only. Results indicated that 10% [Ti+K] substitution exhibit cation exchange capacity more 2.4 times than the unsubstituted-tobermorite. This is due to the increase of the number of active sites on the exchangers. The incorporation of Ti and/or [Ti+Na(K)] in the lattice structure of synthesized tobermorites is due to exchange of Ti$^{4+}{\Leftrightarrow}2Ca^{2+}\;and/or\;Ti^{4+}+2Na^+(K^+){\Leftrightarrow}3Ca^{2+}$, respectively. The mechanism of Ti and [Ti+Na(K)] incorporations in the crystal lattice of the solids during synthesis and the heavy metal cations uptaken by these solids is studied.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.262-267
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• 1998

We evaluated Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior, Ambrosia trifida, Rumex crispus which were reported to have good phytoremediatibility in different concentrations of Cu and Cd. Different growth responses were found in different heavy metal concentrations. Good growth rate for A. trifida and A. artemisiifolia var. elatior in Cu and Cd treatments and poor growth for R. crispus in Cd treatment were found. Although growth was retared in all tested weeds up to 200ppm for Cu and 50ppm for Cd, the high amount of heavy metal uptake indicated that these weeds could be used as phytoremediation. The choice of proper plant for bioremediation in different sources of heavy metal pollution seems important. In this regard, A. trifida which showed little variation in Cu accumulation in shoot under different Cu concentrations could be used for phytoremediation and phytostabilization.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.464-470
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• 2009

For the investigation of the oxidation behavior for titanium metal at various temperatures, titanium specimens were heated for 2 hours in the range of $300{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$, individually. And then X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic analyses were carried out. At $300^{\circ}C$, infrared absorption bands on the surface of the titanium specimen were shown in a spectrum by the oxygen uptake of titanium metal(hexagonal). At increased temperature, not only infrared absorption bands but also X-ray diffraction peaks for the titanium oxide were grown and shifted to low wave number ($cm^{-1}$) and angle($^{\circ}$) due to the more oxygen diffusion into titanium metal. At $700^{\circ}C$, $Ti_3O$ (hexagonal phase) was identified by X-ray diffractometer. $TiO_2$ (rutile, tetragonal phase) layer was produced on the surface of the specimen below $1{\mu}m$ in thickness at $600^{\circ}C$, and grown about $2{\mu}m$ at $700^{\circ}C$ and with $110{\mu}m$ in thickness at $1000^{\circ}C$. Above $900^{\circ}C$, (110) plane of the crystal on the surface of rutile-$TiO_2$ layer was grown.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.56-65
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• 2022

Copper is one of the non-ferrous metals used in the electrical/electronic manufacturing industries due to its superior properties particularly the high conductivity and less resistivity. The effluent generated from the surface finishing process of these industries contains higher copper content which gets discharged in to water bodies directly or indirectly. This causes severe environmental pollution and also results in loss of an important valuable metal. To overcome this issue, continuous R & D activities are going on across the globe in adsorption area with the purpose of finding an efficient, low cost and ecofriendly adsorbent. In view of the above, present investigation was made to compare the performance of a plant root (Datura root powder) as a bio-adsorbent to that of the synthetic one (Tulsion T-42) for copper adsorption from such effluent. Experiments were carried out in batch studies to optimize parameters such as adsorbent dose, contact time, pH, feed concentration, etc. Results of the batch experiments indicate that 0.2 g of Datura root powder and 0.1 g of Tulsion T-42 showed 95% copper adsorption from an initial feed/solution of 100 ppm Cu at pH 4 in contact time of 15 and 30 min, respectively. Adsorption data for both the adsorbents were fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm. Experimental results were also validated with the kinetic model, which showed that the adsorption of copper followed pseudo-second order rate expression for the both adsorbents. Overall result demonstrates that the bio-adsorbent tested has a potential applicability for metal recovery from the waste solutions/effluents of metal finishing units. In view of the requirements of commercial viability and minimal environmental damage there from, Datura root powder being an effective material for metal uptake, may prove to be a feasible adsorbent for copper recovery after the necessary scale-up studies.