CHED 1070 |
| Biological indicators, such as aquatic plants, have been used for monitoring water pollution by trace elements and toxic metal ions. There has been a growing interest in the use of metal-accumulating roots and rhizomes of aquatic vascular plants for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated aqueous streams. Aquatic plants such as Sagittaria lancifolia, Salvinia minima, Typha domingensis are suitable for this purpose. These emergent macrophytes are abundant in the wetland system, Caño Tiburones, located in the northern part of Puerto Rico. This natural tropical wetland has been exposed to contamination by aqueous effluents produced from industrial activities, waste disposal sites, local or municipal sewage, agricultural activities among others. The aim of the present work was to provide quantitative information on the concentration levels of lead in aquatic plants and surface water samples collected from the wetland, Caño Tiburones. Samples were obtained from three sampling stations. Plant samples were digested using a microwave laboratory oven (CEM MARS X). Analysis was performed by means of a flame-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (PE AAnalyst 800). Bioaccumulation factors for plant roots are reported. The results of this study can provide the basis for understanding the bioaccumulation and phytoremediation capabilities of the aquatic plants Sagittaria lancifolia, Salvinia minima and Typha domingensis for environmental cleanup purposes. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |