Journal of Environmental Biology

Defluoridation of water with the help  of copper phytoremediated Andrographis paniculata plant biomass

 

D. Kumar, S.K. Bharti, S. Anand and N. Kumar*

Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow-226 025, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: narendrakumar_lko@yahoo.co.in

 

 

 

Key words

Andrographis paniculata

Copper

Defluoridation                

Enrichment co-efficient Phytoremediated biomass 

 

 

Publication Data

Paper received : 04.05.2017       

Revised received : 13.09.2017    

Re-revised received : 12.02.2018

Accepted : 16.03.2018

 

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to defluoridate water with the help of copper phytoremediated A. paniculata plant biomass. 

 

Methodology: One gram of dry root and shoot of A. paniculata (30, 60 and 90 days) grown in Cu treated soil (50, 100, 150 mg kg-1) was digested separately in a solution of HNO₃:HClO₄ (3:1) at 70–80^oC and was subsequently analyzed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA 240 FS, Varian). Biomass of fresh shoot of A. paniculata 90 days after sowing (DAS) were collected from the experimental pots (T0, T1, T2 and T3) and washed carefully with double distilled deionized water and sun dried till constant weight. Dried plant biomass samples were ground manually and sieved to obtain powder of below 1.5 mm diameter and used as a biosorbent. Before applying as a biosorbent, the obtained powdered sample was subjected to acid/alkali treatment. The treated plant material was washed repetitively with double distilled water till clear solution having pH 7 was obtained.

 

Results: Cu accumulation in roots and shoots after 30, 60 and 90 DAS ranged between 38.19-70.70, 57.23-97.38 and 73.47-184.24 and 25.41-51.23, 26.71-55.75 and 43.16-118.03 µg g^-1 d.wt. respectively. Enrichment coefficient of Cu in root (EC_root) and shoots (EC_shoot) at 30, 60 and 90 days after treatment ranged between 0.47-0.92, 0.65-1.14, 1.23-2.60 and 0.34-0.51, 0.37-0.53, 0.67-1.48 respectively. The dried and ground biomass of A. paniculata had successfully reduced fluoride concentration in water from 5 to 0.784 (mg l^-1) accounting for 84% removal at an adsorbent dose of 1.5 mg, contact time 100 min. and pH 3, respectively.  

 

Interpretation: The correlation coefficient (R²) confirmed the suitability of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The RL values indicated favorable adsorption process. Furthermore, Freundlich constant (n) was found to be greater than 1 which also confirmed the favorable adsorption process.

 

 

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