Potential of Hemidesmus indicus for phytoextraction of lead from industrially contaminated soils

We studied remediation of soils contaminated with lead using a lead hyperaccumulating plant, Hemidesmus indicus. The ability of this plant to accumulate lead in shoots and roots was studied with pot experiments. The results showed that accumulation was maximum in roots for the first 1-3 weeks and later for a contact period of three months, the accumulation rate was maximum in shoots. In addition we used various chelating agents such as EDTA, HEDTA, DTPA and CDTA to determine the best chemical modifier for efficient lead removal from contaminated soils. The effect on lead accumulation of plant in the presence of various metal co-ions was also studied. An attempt was made for the decontamination of lead from five different “Real-life” soils of Kattedan using H. indicus.