Dissertation
Arundo Donax (Giant Reed) Phytoremediation Function of Chromium (Cr) Contamination
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110867
Abstract
Abstract
by Sadeg Saleh Nagi Abdurahman, Ph.D.
Washington State University
December 2016
Chair: Claudio O. Stöckle
Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, industrial processes, and extraction of natural resources produce large quantities of wastewater. Pollutant types and concentrations vary with these activities raising environmental concerns. Heavy metals adversely affect the environment and human health because of their persistence in the environment and carcinogenicity to human beings. The presence of high level of chromium (Cr) from industrial processes is a major health concern and reducing Cr to minimal levels is necessary to protect the environment. Phytoremediation is considered a more cost-effective approach for remediating soil of heavy metals removal because it has fewer side effects than physical and chemical approaches. This dissertation examines potential phytoremediation capacity of two plant varieties and the environmental variables (pH) affecting uptake of chromium by A. donax from a planting mix-water system in small-scale under greenhouse conditions. Specific objectives were:
1) To assess the capacity of two varieties of Arundo donax for phytoremediation of chromium contaminated soil-water ecosystem, and
2) To investigate the effect of solution pH on the uptake of chromium by Arundo donax L. from synthetic wastewater added to an organic nursery mix.
To achieve the first objective, two plant varieties were investigated for their capacity for phytoremediation of Cr-contaminated soil using A. donax planted in nursery soil and irrigated with synthetic wastewater containing different chromium concentrations. The results indicated that increases in chromium concentration in growth medium significantly increased chromium concentration in the organs of the plant (roots, stems, and leaves). Chromium concentrations in the aerial parts of the plant were lower than in the roots.
In the second study, the effect of solution pH on the uptake of chromium by Arundo donax L. from synthetic wastewater added to an organic nursery mix at different pH values was investigated. The results obtained from this experiment showed that the Cr concentration in plant tissues decreased with increased soil pH.
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Details
- Title
- Arundo Donax (Giant Reed) Phytoremediation Function of Chromium (Cr) Contamination
- Creators
- Sadeg Saleh Abdurahman
- Contributors
- Claudio O Stöckle (Advisor)James B Harsh (Committee Member)Pius M Ndegwa (Committee Member)Indranil Chowdhury (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 114
- Identifiers
- 99900581720601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation