Author(s): CORRÊA, G. M.; HUTHER, C. M.; ROCHA, N. P. de S.; MELO, P. S. de; RIGUEIRA, R. J.; OLIVEIRA, J. R. de; TAVARES, S. R. de L.

Summary: The increase in urbanization following the industrial revolution has led to a significant increase in the discharge of wastewater. One of the main pollutants most frequently found are heavy metals such as lead (Pb), which is harmful to the environment. Phytoremediation has emerged as a low-cost technology for decontaminating these environments. The effectiveness of this process depends on factors such as water pH and electrical conductivity (EC). The aim of this study was to assess how the pH and electrical conductivity parameters of the water were influenced by lead concentrations in a phytoremediation process using the macrophytes water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes). Twenty pots were used for each species, with the following Pb concentrations: 0 (control); 0.033; 1.65; 2.65; 3.3; mg.L-1. Water samples were taken at 8-day intervals and the pH and electrical conductivity parameters were analyzed in the laboratory 80 days after the end of the experiment. With regard to pH, it was possible to observe that there was statistical variability in all concentrations of the water hyacinth cultivation solution, except for 1.65 mg.L- 1, while for the water lettuce solution there were no statistical differences on any day. As for the electrical conductivity, there was a similar behavior in the solutions of both species, with a statistical difference on the first day when compared to the others, which showed a much higher value, showing that there was a decrease in the solubility of metals in the medium over the 25 days due to natural evaporation.

Publication year: 2024

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Soils

Keywords: Condutividade Eletrica, Eichhornia Crassipes, Fitorremediação, Lead, Pistia Stratiotes