Comparative Pot Experimental Studies for Phyto-Remediation of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Water Using Ludwigia Decurrens

Heavy metal pollution in surface and groundwater bodies has become a major environmental concern, largely driven by the rapid expansion of industries. However, an effective and sustainable solution lies in the use of hydrophytes for phytoremediation. This approach offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to remove heavy metals from contaminated water bodies. This study assessed the efficiency of hydrophytes (Ludwigia decurrens) for the removal of some selected heavy metals (HMs) in a combined state under a controlled pot experiment, using four different heavy metal concentrations. L. decurrens plant was obtained at a swampy area of university of Ilorin farm. The metals were combined in a pot at four different concentrations (10, 20, 30 & 40) ppm using 5 mL of each metal concentration. Samples of water and plants parts were taken at 7 days interval, digested using wet acid digestion and the digestates were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The plants were separated into different parts, root, stem and leaf. The average HMs percentage removal at different concentrations of (10, 20, 30 & 40) ppm for four weeks was Cd - 94.09%, 97.69%, 99.01% and 99.17%, Cr - was 91.46%, 91.37%, 82.20% and 84.25%, Pb - 90.69%, 85.56%, 97.71`% and 94.53%, while Zn - 50.31%, 51.34%, 77.79% and 83.24% respectively. The heavy metals were removed in order of Cd >Pb> Cr>Zn. The results show that the hydrophyte, L. decurrens can efficiently remove HMs at varied concentrations with maximum affinity for Cd among the four heavy metals studied.