Phytoremediation of chromium contaminated soils by using Catharanthus roseus

Abstract

Phytoremediation is a developing technique that used plant to remediate, degrade, remove or extract organic and inorganic pollutant from soil, water and air. In the present study Catharanthus roseus was used for chromium phytoremediation, this plant was seeded in polyethylene pots that contain 8kg of soil. The plant was irrigated with wastewater for four months (May, June, July and August) and the accumulation of heavy metal were analyzed after every month for leaf, stem and root by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The result of translocation factor showed that the accumulation of chromium was high in root than stem. This plant had been Hyperaccumulation depending on the result of Bioconcentration factor (11.45) for August months. The result express that the order of chromium removal was August (93%), July (33%), June (12%) and May (7%). This plant has been effective for removing this metal from soil irrigated by wastewater.