An investigation on hydroponic growth and stable Cs uptake from solutions by Chenopodium album and Amaranthus chlorostachys

Subject Areas : Water Pollution

R. Moogouei ¹ (Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.)

Received: 2012-01-31 Accepted : 2012-03-05 Published : 2012-06-20

Keywords: Hydroponic, phytoremediation, water, Chenopodium album, Cs, Amaranthus chelorostachy,

Abstract :

Ecological adaptation of weeds to grow up solutions contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides and potential of these plants for remediation of sludge, sediment, ground water, surface water and waste water are essential factors for establishment of a phytoremediation system. In this paper growth rate of Chenopodium album and Amaranthus chelorostachys used for remediation in hydroponic system was compared. Then their remediation efficiency was investigated. This system used the Hoagland medium in sand and trays individually (solid and liquid bed hydroponic system). Macro and micro element concentrations, pH and seedling settlement were limiting factors and significantly affected the plants’ growth. As a result C. album could significantly grow in solid bed hydroponic system while A. chelorostachys was grown in liquid bed hydroponic system. Then these plants were exposed to 0.5 mgl-1 CsCl for a period of 14 days. With exposure of the plants to Cs solution, 52.99±7.57 and 41.68± 3.92 percent of Cs ions were remediated from solutions. Moreover significant accumulation of Cs was occurred in shoots of C. album and A. chelorostachys. Thereforethese plants can be potential candidates for phytoremediation purposes.