Phytoremediation of effluents from aluminum smelters: A study of Al retention in mesocosms containing aquatic plants

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 39; no. 11; pp. 2291 - 2300
• Main Authors: Goulet, Richard R., Lalonde, Janick D., Munger, Catherine, Dupuis, Suzanne, Dumont-Frenette, Geneviève, Prémont, Stéfane, Campbell, Peter G.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: aluminum; Aluminum - metabolism; Applied sciences; Araceae - metabolism; bioaccumulation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Environmental Pollutants; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; heavy metals; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial runoff; industrial wastes; Industry; Lemna minor; Macrophyte; macrophytes; Mass balance; Metal removal; Nuphar; Nuphar - metabolism; Nuphar variegatum; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; phytoremediation; Pollution; Potamogeton; Potamogeton epihydrus; Potamogetonaceae - metabolism; Time Factors; Typha latifolia; Typhaceae - metabolism; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wastes; Wastewater treatment; Water - chemistry; Water Purification; Water treatment and pollution; Quebec; Mass balance; Industrial runoff; Macrophyte; Wastewater treatment; Metal removal; Monocotyledones; Lemnaceae; Biomass; Runoff water; Waste water; Phytoremediation; Lemna minor; Foundry industry; Typhaceae; Decontamination; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Bioremediation; Aquatic plant; Biological accumulation; Waste water purification; Typha latifolia; Material balance
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.029

Four mesocosms were exposed to circumneutral and aluminum (Al)-rich wastewater during two successive summers (2000, 2001). The goals of the study were to measure the bioaccumulation of dissolved Al by the aquatic plants
Typha latifolia,
Lemna minor,
Nuphar variegatum and
Potamogeton epihydrus, and to evaluate their importance in the retention of Al by the mesocosms. In 2000, inlet concentrations of total monomeric Al were reduced by 56% and 29% at the Arvida and Laterrière mesocosms, respectively, whereas in 2001 inlet dissolved Al concentrations in the inlet decreased by 40% and 33%.
L. minor had the highest Al uptake rate (0.8–17
mg Al g
−1
d
−1). However, because
T. latifolia (cattails) yielded the highest biomass, it was responsible for 99% of the Al uptake, largely in its root tissue. In 2001, Al uptake by macrophytes accounted for 2–4% and 15–54% of the total Al retained by the Laterrière and Arvida mesocosms, respectively. In the Laterrière mesocosms, Al uptake by cattails could account for 12% and 18% of the dissolved Al retained by both mesocosms. In contrast, dissolved Al was not significantly reduced in the Arvida enclosures, yet cattails did accumulate Al in their roots. Further research is needed to identify the species community composition that would optimize dissolved Al retention.