Assessing the phytofiltration capacity of ( <i>Taxiphyllum barbieri</i> (Cardot &amp; Copp.) Z.Iwats.) under prolonged heavy metal exposure

Heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems demands sustainable, scalable remediation solutions. This study evaluated the long-term (three-month) phytofiltration potential of the aquatic moss <i>Taxiphyllum barbieri</i> (Cardot & Copp.) Z. Iwats, under controlled multi-metal exposure and in real cement factory effluent (CE). In simulated solutions, the moss achieved high removal efficiencies (>93%), particularly for Ni (99.2%) and Zn (99.1%), with substantial tissue accumulation (e.g., Cu: 221.86 mg kg^-1, Cd: 210.36 mg kg^-1). In cement effluent, removal efficiencies were lower (41-64%), yet bioconcentration factors (BCFs) increased dramatically, reaching 4523.9 for Zn and 4093.8 for Cd, indicating efficient hyper-concentration of bioavailable metal fractions. Physiological assessments revealed metal-specific stress responses, including antioxidant activation, significant proline accumulation (up to 328% under Ni), and modulated pigment profiles. Notably, exposure to CE stimulated moss growth (+23.37% RGR) and enhanced photosynthetic pigments, demonstrating physiological resilience under realistic, low-level mixed-metal stress. These findings confirm <i>T. barbieri</i> as a robust, adaptable phytoremediation agent capable of high metal removal and bioconcentration while maintaining physiological integrity. The results support its potential integration into engineered, low-energy wastewater treatment systems for sustainable mitigation of heavy metal contamination.