Evaluation of Phytoremediation Activity of Vetiver Grass for Landfill Leachate Treatment

This study evaluates the potential of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) for treating landfill leachate through phytoremediation, with a focus on heavy metal removal. Fully grown vetiver grass were cultivated under controlled conditions in the Jackson State University (JSU) lab to ensure optimal health and growth before being used in the experiment. Four 5-gal. buckets were prepared, two containing a 50% solution of landfill leachate which were diluted with 50% tap water and two containing a 25% solution of landfill leachate which were diluted with 75% tap water. Another 5 gal. bucket with freshwater was used as a control. The leachate used in this experiment was collected from the Canton Sanitary Landfill in Canton, Mississippi. In each bucket, one vetiver grass was planted. Initial measurements established baseline conditions, including heavy metal concentrations using inductively coupled plasma optical emissions spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and pH. Testing after every 10 days over 1 month period tracked changes in heavy metal levels and pH. The health of the plants was also monitored every 10 days. ICP-OES analyses were conducted to assess metal uptake in the roots and shoots. ICP/OES results showed a substantial reduction in heavy metal concentrations, with vetiver effectively absorbing contaminants, while pH stabilized, improving water quality. Comparisons with control plants grown in freshwater demonstrated vetiver’s effectiveness as a sustainable phytoremediation tool for treating landfill leachate and improving environmental quality.