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Comparative assessment of Azolla pinnata and Vallisneria spiralis in Hg removal from G.B. Pant Sagar of Singrauli Industrial region, India

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Abstract

The aim of the present work was to monitor the Hg pollution in water and sediments of G.B. Pant Sagar located in Singrauli Industrial Region, India and to suggest the efficient aquatic plants for its phytoremediation. The study assessed the comparative potential of a free floating water fern Azolla pinnata and submerged aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis to purify waters polluted by Hg. Six days laboratory experiments have been conducted to mark the percentage removal of Hg at initial concentration of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 mg L−1. The percentage removal of Hg was higher for A. pinnata (80–94%) than V. spiralis (70–84%). Likewise, the Hg accumulated in dry mass was much higher for A. pinnata and a high correlation (R 2 = 0.91 for A. pinnata and 0.99 for V. spiralis) was obtained between applied Hg doses and accumulated amounts in biomass. A concentration dependent decrease in chlorophyll a, protein, RNA, DNA and nutrients (NO3− and \({\text{PO}}_{\text{4}}^{{\text{3 - }}}\)) uptake was detected in A. pinnata and V. spiralis due to Hg toxicity. The decrease was more prominent in Azolla than Vallisneria. The results recommended the use of A. pinnata and V. spiralis to ameliorate the industrial effluents (thermal power, chlor-alkali and coal mine effluent) contaminated with Hg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Ecology, Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, Mizoram University, Tanhril Campus, Gram, MZU, Post Box no. 190, Aizawl, India, 796001

    Prabhat Kumar Rai

  2. Centre of Environmental Science and Technology, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    B. D. Tripathi

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  1. Prabhat Kumar Rai
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  2. B. D. Tripathi
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Correspondence to Prabhat Kumar Rai.

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Rai, P.K., Tripathi, B.D. Comparative assessment of Azolla pinnata and Vallisneria spiralis in Hg removal from G.B. Pant Sagar of Singrauli Industrial region, India. Environ Monit Assess 148, 75–84 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0140-2

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