Water phytoremediation of cadmium and copper using A zolla filiculoides L am. in a hydroponic system

The aim of this work was to evaluate the utility of A zolla filiculoides growing in a hydroponic system for the phytoremediation of continental water polluted with cadmium and copper during 7 days of exposure. Cadmium and copper chloride were added to the medium at concentrations of 0.5–10 mg/ L and 0.1–25 mg/ L , respectively. Cadmium and copper levels were measured in each plant using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The analytical methodology used to measure cadmium and copper levels was validated with standard reference material ( SRM ) – 1570 (spinach) National Institute of Standards and Technology. The results indicated that cadmium and copper phytoremediation was statistically significant with a maximum increase in plant tissue of 1623.20 and 6013.1 μg/g, respectively. This photosynthetic efficiency was chronically damaged when A zolla filiculoides were exposed to 10 mg/ L of Cd and 25 mg/ L of Cu . The A zolla plants were not affected in the other phytoremediation treatments with copper.