This article was downloaded by: [University of Calgary]On: 13 June 2013, At: 15:22Publisher: Taylor & FrancisInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number:1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street,London W1T 3JH, UK

Journal of EnvironmentalScience and Health .Part A: EnvironmentalScience and Engineeringand Toxicology: Toxic/Hazardous Substances andEnvironmental EngineeringPublication details, including instructions forauthors and subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lesa19

Zinc removal in stronglybasic solutions by waterhyacinthGöksel Akçin a , Nilüfer Güldede b & ÖmerSaltabas aa Department of Chemistry, Yildiz TechnicalUniversity, 80270 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkeyb Department of Physics, Yildiz TechnicalUniversity, 80270 Sisli, Istanbul, TurkeyPublished online: 15 Dec 2008.

To cite this article: Göksel Akçin , Nilüfer Güldede & Ömer Saltabas (1993):Zinc removal in strongly basic solutions by water hyacinth, Journal ofEnvironmental Science and Health . Part A: Environmental Science andEngineering and Toxicology: Toxic/Hazardous Substances and EnvironmentalEngineering, 28:8, 1727-1735

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10934529309375973

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private studypurposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution,reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in anyform to anyone is expressly forbidden.

The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or makeany representation that the contents will be complete or accurateor up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drugdoses should be independently verified with primary sources. Thepublisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings,demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever causedarising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of theuse of this material.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

J. ENVIRON. SCI. HEALTH, A28(8), 1727-1735 (1993)

ZINC REMOVAL IN STRONGLY BASIC SOLUTIONS BY WATER HYACINTH

Göksel Akçin*, Nilüfer Güldede**, Ömer Saltabas*

*Yildiz Technical University, Department of Chemistry,

80270 Sisli. Istanbul, Turkey

** Yildiz Technical University, Department of Physics,

80270 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Zinc uptake by Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from zinc

solution were examined in the pH range of 9.4 - 10.02. 1 ppm and

40 L zinc chloride solution is used. During the experiment.at cer-

tain intervals, the pH values of zinc solutions were determined

and samples of 50 ml were taken. At the end of the experiment.

plants were harvested and prepared for analysis. Macro and micro

nutrients at the plant materials and in samples were determined.

It was also shown that zinc uptake by the plants was slower in

strongly basic solutions and the plants were still survived.

INTRODUCTION

The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) grows abundantly

throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.1-13

These plants have been proposed as inexpensive alternative for re-

moving heavy metals from industrial effluents.* Some studies have

been reported regarding the removal of zinc, cadmium and other

metals by the water hyacinth.8-17 Some researchers have reported

the uptake of heavy metals by water hyacinth at acidic media

1727

Copyright © 1993 by Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

1728 AKCIN, GULDEDE, AND SALTABAS

(pH= 3.27 -7.02) and basic media (pH= 8.66 - 10.01).5,8,16,18-20

Some others have reported the physicochemical properties of the

water supporting water hyacinth in different pH range.5,6,815,18

They observed a luxuriant growth of water hyacinth at pH range of

6 - 7 and when the pH of the water bodies decreased to a range of

pH 4.4 - 5.9 but water hyacinth could still survive indicating its

tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions such as pH

4.4 - 9.9 and temperature 25 - 36°C. Very little basic information

exists on the response of aquatic weeds to their ecological condi-

tions and varying aquatic environment. In this study, heavy metal

uptake by water hyacinth from zinc solution were examined in the

pH range of 9.4 - 10.02. The neutralization capacity of the water

hyacinth plants in the presence and absence of heavy metals in

strongly basic media were investigated. At the same time, the ab-

sorption capacity of the plants were studied.

It was known that pH of aquatic medium has a direct effect on

the viability of plant in addition to its effect on the nutrient

supply. It is also well known that below pH 3 and above pH 9, the

protoplasm, the root cells of most vascular plant, is severely

damaged. Different species display characteristic tolerance limits

and requirements in their physiological behavior with respect to

pH.

EXPERIMENTAL

Water hyacinth planted in 500 L plastic tanks in a greenhouse

of Yildiz Technical University. Plants were washed with tap water

and deionized water, then they were kept in a tank containing de-

ionized water for 48 hours prior to experiment. Individual plants

were placed in tank of 40 L containing 1 ppm zinc and deionized

the study, deionized water was used.

All the experiments are performed at 20±l*C temperature, 80 X

relative humidity and light intensity 40 W, 2100 Lm (16 h light, 8

h dark). For pH determination, the pH values of the Zn solution

and deionized water were determined before and after insertion of

plant. After insertion of plant. 50 ml of samples were taken at

intervals of 30 minutes for 6 hours and after 24 hours for 5 days.

While the pH values were determined the usinq metrohm E-510 pH-me-

ter. At the end of experiment, the plants were harvested and dried

in an oven at 1O5"C for 24 hours. Leaves, floats and roots of dry

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

ZINC REMOVAL 1729

pH .

10

9 .5"

9

B «;

JO.— v

• BlankZinc

Pll

W

9.5

8.5

a BlankA Zinc

\

0 60 120 180 0t(min)

48 72 96 120

t(hours)

la lb

Fig. 1 a-b. Variations in pH over a period of time

plants were placed in a digestion set after grinding by mixer.

Digestion reactives used for total nitrogen determination were

HaSOi-HaOa and HNOa for other nutrients.2'•a2•33 Digestion took

place at 125'C for 1.5 hours by using Nasa-Tech. Brief Teflon

decomposition bombs with cover (decomposition bomb of stainless

steel). Then the reaction products (Copper, Iron, Manganese and

Zinc) were analyzed by PU-9200 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and

(Nitrogen, Phosphorus) by Shimatzu Double-beam UV-150-02 Spectro-

photometer and (Potassium, Calcium) by Eppendorf flamephotometer.

pH aa a Function of Time

The initial pH of deionized water was adjusted to 9.5 usinq

KOH (1M) and the initial pH of 1 ppm zinc chloride solution was

recorded to be 9.4. Zinc uptake was also examined in deionized

water alone. All subsequent pH changes are shown in Figure 1 a-b.

As the plant neutralized from the aquatic medium in which it

grows, it was seen that the pH of its medium raised in the first

24 to 48 hours. It can be assumed that the plant can adopt itself

to the conditions or subsequently adjust the medium. There were

some variations on pH, then initial pH was reached over a period

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

1730 AKCIN, GULDEDE, AND SALTABA§

7. Zinc

Remaining

100 •

80 •

60

40

20

0

— O

0 24 A8 72 96 120

t(liours)

Fig. 2. Removal rates of zinc

of 120 hours. The pH range was 9.4 - 10.02. Hence, it was observed

that water hyacinth as an aquatic plant, doesn't have the capacity

to neutralize a highly basic solution, as it can neutralize an

acidic solution.

Zinc Uptake as a Function of Initial Concentration

As observed in Figure 2, the fraction of zinc remaining in so-

lution decreases with time. Initially water hyacinth has rapid

uptake phase for 48 hours, the first 8 hours of exposure is more

rapid, followed by a slower uptake phase. The plant consistently

remove almost 40 percent of zinc in 48 hours from starting concen-

tration of 1 ppm. It was shown that zinc was absorbed by the

plant. These results resemble those obtained for zinc and cadmium

but in this study, the samples taken frequently and for longer

periods then the others.'-" Zinc uptake is slower in strongly ba-

sic solutions than the acidic solutions. At the end of the experi-

ment, and in pH range of 9.4 - 10.02, the plants were still sur-

vived.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

ZINC REMOVAL 1731

TABLE 1

Nutrient content of Water hyacinth

Parts

Plant

Leaf

Float

Root

Total

plant

Samale

In i t i a l plant

(in zinc solution)

Plant

Plank olant

(in deionized water)

In i t i a l plant

Plant

Blank plant

In i t i a l plant

Plant

Plank plant

In i t i a l olant

Plant

Blank plant

XN

1.01

0.02

0.04

0.94

0.01

0.01

0.94

0.01

0.01

0.96

0.01

0.03

Macro

7.P

4.50

1.68

1.26

3.85

0.9?

1.20

4.40

1.50

0.95

4.25

1.37

1.14

and micro nutrients

Ka

0.20

0.10

0.20

0.20

0.20

0.40

0.14

o.os

0.10

0.18

0.13

0.23

/IK

5.20

14.00

19.95

1.01

11. B5

10.40

1.07

7.15

10.09

2.43

11.00

13.43

XFe

15. ?C

3.20

B.4E

3.20

5.50

5.60

23.08

3.25

6.30

14.06

3.98

6.78

(average

M l

2.10

1.50

0.55

2.40

2.10

0.55

14.23

3.70

0.70

6.24

2.43

0.60

values)"

XCu

1.20

0.40

0.90

7.02

0.50

0.85

0.81

0.75

0.7S

3.01

0.55

0.B3

0.01

0.07

0.03

0.02

0.05

0.02

0.02

0.14

0.02

0.02

0.09

0.02

•Estimates were made on dry weight Basis.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

1732 AKCIN, GULDEDE, AND SALTABA§

Nutrients in PlantB Materials

fit the end of experiment, quantities of macro nutrients (Ni-

trogen, phosphate, K-1, Ca"*3) and micro nutrients (Fe~a, Mn*"a,

Cu~3, Zn"3) were determined within the plant materials by com-

paring two medium, zinc solution and the other deionized water

used as a blank. The results are listed in Table 1. The plant data

given in this table belong to 3 groups of plants, one has under-

gone the preparation phase for the experiment but not tested

(initial plant), the other one subjected to experiment (in zinc

solution) and the last one used as blank (in deionized water).

It was seen that decreases of nitrogen and phosphate in leaves,

floats and roots occurred in second groups, similar observations

were made for Cu""3 and Mn"*3. Also it was seen that a decrease of

Fe~3 quantities in green parts (leaf+float) occurred in both cases

where as Fe""3 in the roots did not change significantly, but Zn*"3

was more predominant in the roots and then transported to leaves.

As zinc was being taken by the plant from zinc solution some ions

were selectively released. Even though mineral deficiencies may

have occurred within the plant body, the plant did not let ioniza-

tion go further to endanger its survival. The average amount of

macro and micro nutrients that are nitrogen, phosphate, Ca~=,

Fe*3, Mn""3 and Cu~3 in the plants placed in zinc solution and de-

ionized water observed to be decreased compared to mentioned val-

ues of initial plant on the the contrary K*1, Zn""3 values are ob-

served to be increased. There were abundant K*1 ions in both medi-

um and those K*1 ions were taken by plants. Because KOH was used

to adjust the pH. But K""1 ions uptake by plants (in zinc solution)

were more than blank plant. Zinc uptake were selectively chosen

by the plants.

DISCUSSION

This work is parallel to earlier studies5 • ° • " - lB • 1<s • 1B • lo but

zinc uptake was slower than other pH ranges. As this study was

performed in strongly basic media.

Hence this study was carried out to determine the plant's sen-

sitive adjusting capacity to extreme pH environment. Water hya-

cinth can be considered as a biological filter for the detoxi-

fication and decontamination of water bodies.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

ZINC REMOVAL 1733

REFERENCES

1. Penfound, W.T., and T.T. Earle. The Biology of the Water Hya-

cinth. In Ecol. Monogr. 1948; 18: 447-72.

2. Boyd, O.E. Vascular Aquatic Plants for Mineral Nutrients Re-

moval from Polluted Water. Economic Botany 1970; 24: 95-109.

3. Wolverton, B.C., and McDonald, R.C. Don't Wastewater Weeds.

New Sciences 1976; 12: 318-20.

4. Wolverton, B.C., and McDonald, R.C. Wastewater Treatment Util-

izing Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Pre-

sented at 1977 National Conferance on Treatment and Disposal

of Industrial Wastewaters and Residues. 1977.

5. Hardy, J.K., and Raber, N.B. Zinc Uptake by the Water Hyacinth

, Effects of Solution factors. Chemosphere 1985; 14: 1155-66.

6. Tokunaga, K., Furuta, N., and Morimoto, M. Accumulation of

Cadmium in Eichhornia crassipes. J. Hyg. Chem. 1976; 22:234-9.

7. Cooley, T.N., and Martin, D.F. Cadmium in Naturally Occurring

Water Hyacinth. Chemosphere 1979; 2: 75-8.

8. O'Keeffe, D.H., Hardy, J.K., and Rao, R.A. Cadmium Uptake by

the Water Hyacinth: Effects of Solution Factors. Environ.

Pollut., Ser. A 1984; 34: 133-47.

9. Hardy, J.K., and O'Keeffe, D.H. Cadmium Uptake by the Water

Hyacinth: Effects of Root Mass, Solution Volume, Complexers,

and Other Metal Ions. Chemosphere 1985; 14: 417-26.

10. Tatsuyama, K., Egawa, H., and Yamagishi, T. Sorption of Heavy

Metals from Metal Solutions by the Water Hyacinth. Zasso

Kenkyu 1977; 22: 151-6.

11. Wolverton, B.C., and McDonald R.C. Water Hyacinth Sorption

Rates of Lead, Mercury and Cadmium. NASA ERL Report No. 170.

1978.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

1734 AKCIN, GULDEDE, AND SALTABA5

12. Tatsuyama, K., Egawa, H., Yamamoto, H., and Nakamura, M. Sorp-

tion of Heavy Metals by the Water Hyacinth from Metal Solu-

tions II. Some Experimental Conditions Influencing the Absorp-

tion. Zasso Kenkyu 1979; 24: 260-3.

13. Chigno, F.E., Smith, R.W., and Shore, F.L. Uptake of Arsenic,

Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Polluted Waters by the Water

Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes. Environ. Pollut., Ser. A 1982;

27: 31-6.

14. Muramoto, S., and Oki, Y. Removal of Some Heavy Metals from

Polluted Water by Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Bull.

Environm. Contam. Toxicol. 1983; 30: 170-7.

15. Lee, T.A., and Hardy, J.K. Copper Uptake by Water Hyacinth. J.

Environ. Sci. Health, Part A 1987; A22: 141-60.

16. Turnquist, T.D., Urig, B.M., and Hardy, J.K. Nickel Uptake by

the Water Hyacinth. J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A 1990;

A25(8): 897-912.

17. Saltabas, Ö., and Akçin G. Removal of Chromium, Copper and

Nickel by Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes). Toxicol. and

Environ. Chem. in press.

18. Jamil. K., Jamil, M.Z., Rao P.V.R., et. al. Eichhornia Crassi-

pes (Mart) Solms. In Relation to pH. Indian Journal of Botany

1985; B, 2: 156-8.

19. Jamil, K., Madhavendra, S.S., Jamil, M.Z., et. al. Studies on

Water Hyacinth as a Biological Filtre for Treating Contami-

nants from Agricultural Wastes and Industrial Effluents. J.

Environ. Sci. Health, Part B 1987; B22. 1: 103-12.

20. Nor, Y.M. The Absorbtion of Metal Ions by Eichhornia crassi-

pes. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability 1990; 2: 85-9.

21. Standart Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.

APHA, AWWA and WCPF, 14 th ed. New York. 1976.

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3

ZINC REMOVAL 1735

22. Ajmal, M., Khon M.A., and Nomani A.A. D i s t r i b u t i o n of Heavy

Metals in P l a n t s and F i sh of t h e Yamuna River ( I n d i a ) . E n v i r .

Mon. and Asses 1985, 5 : 361 -7 .

22. Fayed, S . E . , and Abd-El-Shafy, H . J . Accumulat ion of Cu, Zn, Cd

and Pb by Aquat ic Macrophytes . Environment I n t e r n a t i o n a l 1985;

1 1 : 77 -87 .

Date Received: March 10, 1993Date Accepted: May 7, 1993

Dow

nloa

ded

by [

Uni

vers

ity o

f C

alga

ry]

at 1

5:22

13

June

201

3