Metal phytosorption potential of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides for mitigation of water pollution in high Andean wetlands of Peru

Abstract

The phytosorption potential of metals of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides was evaluated for the mitigation of water pollution in the high Andean wetlands of Peru. The plants were selected from 10 wetland sites in the community of Pomachaca- Tarma and were washed with potable water, dried, ground, weighed, chemically digested and read with Varian AA 240 atomic absorption equipment. The plant showed copper concentrations in the root (12.08 ± 1.67 mg/kg) greater than the stem (7.37 ± 1.00 mg/kg), followed by the leaves (7.37 ± 1.56 mg/kg).  Lead concentration in the root was 0.228 ± 0.711 mg/kg, but was not found in the stem or leaves. The highest zinc concentration was in the root (67.52 ± 12.57 mg/kg) to the stem (53.30 ± 0.61 mg/kg), followed by the leaves (43.99 ± 8.49 mg/kg). Finally, iron was higher in the root (5571.28 ± 693.94 mg/kg) than in the leaves (342.76 ±122.09 mg/kg), followed by the stem (291.94 ± 54.84 mg/kg). Surrounding water had pH between 7.2 and 7.6; no copper and lead were found, zinc was 0.005 ± 0.012 mg/L and iron was 0.009± 0.007 mg/L. In the sediment, copper was 26.12 ± 0.65 mg/kg, lead 28.25 ± 2.41 mg/kg, zinc 85.98 ± 11.38 mg/kg and iron 26111.89 ± 614.37 mg/kg. These results indicate that this plant absorbs metals in the order of Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb and is an alternative for the development of phytotechnology, oriented to the treatment of effluents with metals that contaminate water in wetlands.