Fluoride bioaccumulation by hydroponic cultures of camellia (Camellia japonica spp.) and sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum spp.)

•We establish hydroponic cultures of camellia and sugar cane species.•The capacity of these cultures to remove fluoride from water was measured.•The sugarcane roots accumulated F with 86% of it absorbed and 14% adsorbed.•In camellia plants the highest fluoride concentration was found in the leaves.•Camelia plants bio-accumulated 74–221-fold while sugarcane 100–500-fold.

The ability of hydroponic cultures of camellia and sugar cane adult plants to remove fluoride was investigated. Plants were grown in a 50% Steiner nutrient solution. After an adaptation period to hydroponic conditions, plants were exposed to different fluoride concentrations (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg L−1). Fluoride concentration in the culture medium and in tissues was measured. In sugar cane, fluoride was mainly located in roots, with 86% of it absorbed and 14% adsorbed. Sugar cane plants removed 1000–1200 mg fluoride kg−1 dry weight. In camellia plants the highest fluoride concentration was found in leaf. Roots accumulated fluoride mainly through absorption, which was 2–5 times higher than adsorption. At the end of the experiment, fluoride accumulation in camellia plants was 1000–1400 mg kg−1 dry weight. Estimated concentration factors revealed that fluoride bioaccumulation is 74–221-fold in camellia plants and 100–500-fold in sugar cane plants. Thus, the latter appear as a suitable candidate for removing fluoride from water due to their bioaccumulation capacity and vigorous growth rate; therefore, sugar cane might be used for phytoremediation.