Metal Phytoremediation Potential of Rhizophora Mucronata (Lam.)
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Indian Journal of Marine Sciences Vol. 38(2), June 2009, pp. 178-183 Metal phytoremediation potential of Rhizophora mucronata (Lam.) V Pahalawattaarachchi, C S Purushothaman & A Vennila Division of Aquatic Environmental Management, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai, 400 061, India [E-mail: [email protected]] Received 26 March 2008; revised 9 June 2008 The present study consist the absorption, accumulation and partitioning of eight metals in order to find out the phytoremediation potential of the mangrove species Rhizophora mucronata (Lam.) in Alibag, Maharashtra, India. The concentrations of Cu, Cd, Ni, Mn, Cr, Zn, Fe and Pb in the sediments of the mangrove area were determined to be 92.59, 5.31, 63.29, 1020.00, 545.00, 78.18,68164.26 and 19.51 ppm, respectively on dry weight basis. Metal concentrations were different in specific parts of the plant, and the highest concentration (in ppm on dry weight basis) of each metal was found in the following pattern: leaves for Ni (1.74 ± 0.58) and Cr (16.78 ± 7.06; senescent leaves for Zn (6.29 ± 0.80); bark for Cd (1.34 ± 0.04) and Pb (7.35 ± 0.45), and roots for Fe (1236.69 ± 754.69) and Mn (618.31 ± 186.08). There were different translocation rates for each metal from root to shoots. The translocation ratios of Cd, Cr and Pb (1.53, 1.66 and 1.08, respectively) exceeded one in the case of senescent leaves, as these metals were being accumulated in leaves before falling off and thus eliminated. The trend of the phytostabilization capacity of R. mucronata in the Alibag mangrove ecosystem is confined to only the highly abundant metals in nature and the phytoremediation capacity of R. mucronata varies from metal to metal. [Key words: mangrove, translocation, bioaccumulation, absorption, sediment, bivariate] Introduction R. mucronata4. There was no effect of Pb on the final Mangrove ecosystems are considered as highly weight and size of hypocotyls, stems, roots or leaves productive ecosystems and functioning remarkably in of R. mucronata5. Many studies have been carried out various ecological processes. Rhizophora mucronata to evaluate the potential of terrestrial plants in the (Lam.) is one of the widely distributed mangrove phytoremediation of metals. However the studies on species that has been identified as a desirable species the metal extraction potential of mangroves in situ are for silvicultural practices and in planting programmes rare. Therefore, an attempt was made to understand because of its noteworthy qualities such as fast the metal phytoremediation capability of R. mucronata growing rate and viviparous seeds, which are easy to in a mangrove ecosystem at Alibag, Maharashtra, plant. India, in view of generating baseline data that would Metal contaminants are common pollutants in benefit in the wise-management and utilization of this urban ecosystems, arising from industrial effluents, ecosystem. The present study presents data on the industrial wastes and urban runoff1. They are harmful concentrations of eight metals (Cu, Cd, Ni, Mn, Fe, to humans and animals, and tend to bioaccumulate in Cr, Zn and Pb) in leaves, senescent leaves, bark and the food chain. Mangrove systems have the capacity roots of R. mucronata. to act as a sink or buffer and remove/immobilize metals before reaching the nearby aquatic ecosystems. Material and Methods Due to a large proportion of fine clays, organic matter The study was carried out in a mangrove ecosystem and low pH, mangrove mud effectively sequester at Alibag (Raigad district of Maharashtra) India. metals, often immobilized as sulfides in anaerobic Alibag is situated on the West coast of India. The area sediments2. Bioaccumulation of chromium has been extends between latitudes 18° 56' N and 18° 29' N and addressed in limited studies3. Little adverse effect was longitudes 72° 50' E and 73° 04' E. The highest observed on the growth of treated and established R. maximum temperature of the study area is 38°C and mucronata seedlings in sediment, with lead (50-250 the lowest minimum is 8.4°C. Relative humidity is on mg/ml) and zinc (l0-50 mg/ml) additions twice over a an average over 80% during the southwest monsoon 10-week period4. The accumulation of both the season. In the rest of the year, the relative humidity is metals was much higher in Avicennia alba than in between 65 and 75%. The average annual rainfall is PAHALAWATTAARACHCHI et al. METAL PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF R. MUCRONATA 179 heated in a microwave unit at 800 W to a temperature of 190°C for 20 min with a pressure of 25 bar. The digested samples were diluted to 50 ml and subjected to analysis of the eight metals (Cu, Cd, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cr, Zn and Pb) by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (A Analyst 800, Perkin Elmer, USA) using flame atomization. Results are expressed on dry weight basis of each component. Metal translocation ratios were calculated to illustrate the metal mobility from roots to the aerial parts of the plant using the following formula7. Translocation Ratio = (HM1eaf or HMs.leaf or HMbark)/ HMroot Where; HM = Metal concentration (mg/kg plant dry weight), s. leaf- senescent leaf Sediment analysis Sediment samples were collected in triplicate and were dried at 105°C to constant weight. Three replicates of 0.25 g sediments were acid-digested in microwave assisted Kjeldhal digester. Each Fig. 1—Map showing the study area microwave extraction vessel was added with 5 ml of conc. nitric acid, 2 ml hydrochloride acid and 1 ml of 6 between 2000 and 2200 mm . The mangrove species hydrofluoric acid. The vessels were capped and found in the area comprised of Avicennia marina and heated in a microwave unit at 800 W to a temperature Acanthus illicifolius, Aegiceras cornicu!atum, of 210°C for 20 min with pressure of 40 bar. The Excoecaria agga!acha, Ceriops tagal, Brugeira digested samples were analysed for the eight metals cylindrical. R. mucronata. R. mucronata was found by atomic absorption spectrophotometer using flame around the waterfronts of the small streams. The trees atomization. Results are expressed on dry weight were less than 2.5 m in stature and comparatively basis. In order to compare the degree of storage of the stunted in nature. metals, concentration factors (CF) were calculated as concentrations of metals per tissue (g) over the Sampling and analysis concentration of metal per (g-) in sediment8. Live plant parts (young leaves, leaves at senescent The efficiency of the analytical method and stage, bark and roots) were collected from three instrumentation was verified by the analysis of the randomly selected R. mucronata trees in January reference materials obtained from National Research 2007. Root tissue was sampled from what was Council of Canada for Marine sediments (MESS -3) considered to be nutritive roots for absorptionother and Estuarine water (SLEW-3) using five replicates. than anchoring roots. Root samples were washed The obtained percentage recovery for the metal in thoroughly in tap water followed by distilled water in sediment reference ranged from 91.00-112.00. order to get rid of attached soil and debris. All the samples were air-dried for three days. The samples Statistical analysis were oven-dried at 60°C temperature to a constant The mean, standard deviation and the range of the weight and ground to powder. Three replicates of metal concentrations were calculated using SPSS 15.0 dried samples were digested with a mixture (3:1) of statistical package. The differences among metal conc. nitric acid and hydrofluoric in microwave concentrations in plant parts were tested by analysis assisted Kjeldhal digestion (Anton Parr, USA). Each of variance and post-hoc Duncan multiple range test. microwave extraction vessel was added with 6 ml of Person's bivariate correlation analysis was carried out nitric acid and 2 ml of hydrofluoric acid together with to determine the extent of the relationship between the 0.8 g of plant sample. The vessels were capped and elements investigated. 180 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 38, NO. 2, JUNE 2009 Results highest concentration many times than those of other Concentrations of metals accumulated by leaves, metals. Accumulation of Cu was the highest in roots senescence leaves, bark and roots of R. mucronata are although it does not show any significant difference shown in Table 1, while Fig. 2 presents the percentage from the level observed in senescent leaves or in bark accumulation of each metal in each plant part. (Table 1, Fig. 2). Non-senescent leaves exhibited the Correlation coefficients obtained among the eight lowest copper level (Table 1, Fig. 2). Accumulation of total metals in the whole plant is presented in Table 2. Cu in senescent leaves is 3.4 times greater than in All the eight metals were accumulated in the tissues non-senescence leaves. Accumulation of Mn in of R. mucronata. The weighted means of whole plant different plant parts showed a similar pattern to Cu increased in order of Cd (0.93 ppm) < Ni (1.36 ppm) accumulation showing the significant highest level in < Zn (4.99 ppm) < Cu (5.39 ppm) < Pb (6.02 ppm) < roots when compared to leaves, senescent leaves or Cr (I 1.69 ppm) < Mn (329.63 ppm) < Fe (839.92 bark (Table 1, Fig. 2). Significant positive ppm). relationship (Table 2) was observed between the 2 Of the metals measured in the study, Fe showed the levels of Cu and Mn (r = 0.76; P<0.05) and highly Table 1―Partitioning of average metal concentrations (ppm) in R. mucronata Leaves Senescent leaves Bark Roots Weighted Mean ± S.D. Range Mean ± S.D. Range Mean ± S.D. Range