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Phytoremediation Using Aquatic Macrophytes

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Phytoremediation

Abstract

Phytoremediation is a plant-based technology that is also called green technology. After the discovery of hyperaccumulating plants, this technology gained increasing attention. These hyperaccumulating plants are having the ability to uptake, store, transport, and focus on large quantity of specific poisonous elements in their body parts such as aboveground parts and harvestable parts. Phytoremediation has a number of processes that are phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytovolatilization, etc. Both type of plants (terrestrial and aquatic) have been tested, and these are having characteristics to treat polluted soils and waters. A number of aquatic macrophytes have been found that are used for the removal of toxic contaminants such as arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, lead, chromium, and mercury. Some of these aquatic macrophytes are water hyacinth, water spinach, water ferns, hydrilla, and watercress. Metal uptake ability and mechanisms of many other macrophytes have been studied or investigated. Many of these studies proved that aquatic macrophytes have potential for phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is cost-effective, environment-friendly, and has gained rising appreciation. More than 400 plant species have been known that are having the ability to remediate soil and water. This chapter provides a look into new developments in research and practical applications of phytoremediation by using aquatic macrophytes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Development Study Centre, GC University, Katchery Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Amtul Bari Tabinda Akhtar, Abdullah Yasar, Rabia Ali & Rabia Irfan

Authors
  1. Amtul Bari Tabinda Akhtar
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  2. Abdullah Yasar
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  3. Rabia Ali
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  4. Rabia Irfan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amtul Bari Tabinda Akhtar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Abid A. Ansari

  2. Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India

    Sarvajeet Singh Gill

  3. Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India

    Ritu Gill

  4. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Guy R. Lanza

  5. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Lee Newman

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Akhtar, A.B.T., Yasar, A., Ali, R., Irfan, R. (2017). Phytoremediation Using Aquatic Macrophytes. In: Ansari, A., Gill, S., Gill, R., R. Lanza, G., Newman, L. (eds) Phytoremediation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52381-1_8

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