Phytoextraction of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn using the aquatic plant Limnobium laevigatum and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater.

In order to study the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn and the stress response, the floating aquatic plant Limnobium laevigatum was exposed to increasing concentrations of a mixture of these metals for 28 days, and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater was evaluated. The metal concentrations of the treatment 1 (T1) were Pb 1 μg L, Cr 4 μg L, Ni 25 μg L, and Zn 30 μg L; of treatment 2 (T2) were Pb 70 μg L, Cr 70 μg L, Ni 70 μg L, and Zn 70 μg L; and of treatment 3 (T3) were Pb 1000 μg L, Cr 1000 μg L, Ni 500 μg L, and Zn 100 μg L, and there was also a control group (without added metal). The accumulation of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn in roots was higher than in leaves of L.