Study of the bioaccumulation kinetic of lead by living aquatic macrophyte Salvinia auriculata

In the present work, the lead phytoaccumulation by living free floating aquatic macrophytes Salvinia auriculata was investigated in a greenhouse. These plants were grown in lead-doped hydroponic solutions forming, as a function of time, six collections of nutrient media, roots and leaves of plants from a batch system. The synchrotron X-ray radiation fluorescence technique was used in order to determine element concentrations in the nutrient media, dry roots and aerial parts of plant. The aquatic plant-based lead removal data were described by using a non-structural kinetic model. According to the experimental data, both adsorption and bioaccumulation mechanism are present and a competition between the phosphorus macronutrient and lead for plant growth was observed, when great concentration of lead in roots is present. The non-structural kinetic models have shown good agreement with the lead uptake experimental data in all the investigated cases. The results of living macrophytes S. auriculata-based-metal bioaccumulation kinetic parameters can be used in artificial wetlands to predict the heavy metal removal dynamics from wastewaters.