Phytoremediation potential of alternanthera sessilis l. growing in industrially contaminated environment

Phytoremediation potential of Alternanthera sessilis L. for the heavy metals chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) was studied. The samples of water, soil and plant material were collected from heavily polluted Thane-Belapur Industrial Area, Navi Mumbai, India. The collected samples of water and soil were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters as well as heavy metals while plant samples were analyzed for heavy metals using ICP-AES. The results for physico-chemical parameters for water and soil showed all the values were above the permissible limits. Highest concentration of these metals was reported in soil than wastewater. These metals were reported in the sequence of Fe>Cu>Cr> Zn>Ni. Alternanthera sessilis L. showed high bioaccumulation of these heavy metals Roots have higher concentration of heavy metals as compared to shoots. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals have sequence of Fe>Zn>Cr>Cu>Ni. From the experiment it is clear that Alternanthera sessilis L. have ability to withstand such high concentration of heavy metals and prove to be potential species for phytoremediation.