Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reduction of bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals during vermicomposting of water hyacinth

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Vermicomposting of water hyacinth is a good alternative for the treatment of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and subsequentially, beneficial for agriculture purposes. The bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr) were evaluated during vermicomposting of E. crassipes employing Eisenia fetida earthworm. Five different proportions (trials 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) of cattle manure, water hyacinth, and sawdust were prepared for the vermicomposting process. Results show that very poor biomass growth of earthworms was observed in the highest proportion of water hyacinth (trial 1). The water soluble, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable, and leachable heavy metals concentration (percentage of total heavy metals) were reduced significantly in all trials except trial 1. The total concentration of some metals was low but its water soluble and DTPA extractable fractions were similar or more than other metals which were present in higher concentration. This study revealed that the toxicity of metals depends on bioavailable fraction rather than total metal concentration. Bioavailable fraction of metals may be toxic for plants and soil microorganisms. The vermicomposting of water hyacinth by E. fetida was very effective for reduction of bioavailability and leachability of selected heavy metals. Leachability test confirmed that prepared vermicompost is not hazardous for soil, plants, and human health. The feasibility of earthworms to mitigate the metal toxicity and to enhance the nutrient profile in water hyacinth vermicompost might be useful in sustainable land renovation practices at low-input basis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agunbiade FO, Olu-Owolabi BI, Adebowale KO (2009) Phytoremediation potential of Eichhornia crassipes in metal-contaminated coastal water. Bioresour Technol 100:4521–4526

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amir S, Hafidi M, Merlina G, Revel JC (2005) Sequential extraction of heavy metals during composting of sewage sludge. Chemosphere 59:801–810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya SS, Chattopadhyay GN (2006) Effect of vermicomposting on the transformation of some trace elements in fly ash. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 75:223–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiang KY, Huang HJ, Chang CN (2007) Enhancement of heavy metal stabilization by different amendments during sewage sludge composting process. J Environ Eng Manage 17(4):249–256

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chunkao K, Nimpee C, Duangmal K (2012) The King’s initiatives using water hyacinth to remove heavy metals and plant nutrients from wastewater through Bueng Makkasan in Bangkok, Thailand. Ecol Eng 39:40–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciavatta C, Govi M, Simoni A, Sequi P (1993) Evaluation of heavy metals during stabilization of organic matter in compost produced with municipal solid wastes. Bioresour Technol 43:147–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deka H, Deka S, Baruah CK, Das J, Hoque S, Sarma H, Sarma NS (2011) Vermicomposting potentiality of Perionyx excavatus for recycling of waste biomass of Java citronella—an aromatic oil yielding plant. Bioresour Technol 102:11212–11217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez-Crespo MA, Sanchez-Hernandez ZE, Torres-Huerta AM, Negrete-Rodríguez MLX, Conde-Barajas E, Flores-Vela A (2012) Effect of the heavy metals Cu, Ni, Cd, and Zn on the growth and reproduction of epigeic earthworms (E. fetida) during the vermistabilization of municipal sewage sludge. Water Air Soil Pollut 22:915–931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang M, Wong JWC (1999) Effects of lime amendment on availability of heavy metals and maturation in sewage sludge composting. Environ Pollut 106:83–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes A, Llorens M, Saez J, Aguilar MI, Marın ABP, Ortuno JF, Meseguer VF (2006) Ecotoxicity, phytotoxicity and extractability of heavy metals from different stabilised sewage sludges. Environ Pollut 143:355–360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gajalakshmi S, Ramasamy EV, Abbasi SA (2001) Assessment of sustainable vermiconversion of water hyacinth at different reactor efficiencies employing Eudrilus eugeniae Kingberg. Bioresour Technol 83:131–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gajalakshmi S, Ramasamy EV, Abbasi SA (2002) High-rate composting–vermicomposting of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Mart Solms). Bioresour Technol 83:235–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia C, Moreno JL, Hernfindez T, Costa F (1995) Effect of composting on sewage sludges contaminated with heavy metals. Bioresour Technol 53:13–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garg VK, Gupta R (2011) Optimization of cow dung spiked pre-consumer processing vegetable waste for vermicomposting using Eisenia fetida. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 74:19–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan TX, He HB, Zhang XD, Bai Z (2011) Cu fractions, mobility and bioavailability in soil-wheat system after Cu-enriched livestock manure applications. Chemosphere 82:215–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta AK, Sinha S (2007) Phytoextraction capacity of the plants growing on tannery sludge dumping sites. Bioresour Technol 98:1788–1794

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R, Garg VK (2008) Stabilization of primary sludge during vermicomposting. J Hazard Mater 153:1023–1030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R, Mutiyar PK, Rawat NK, Saini MS, Garg VK (2007) Development of a water hyacinth based vermireactor using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. Bioresour Technol 98:2605–2610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haimi J, Huhta V (1986) Capacity of various organic residues to support adequate earthworm biomass for vermicomposting. Biol Fert Soils 2:23–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hait S, Tare V (2012) Transformation and availability of nutrients and heavy metals during integrated composting-vermicomposting of sewage sludges. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 79:214–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu JH, Lo SL (2001) Effects of composting on characterization and leaching of copper, manganese, and zinc from swine manure. Environ Pollut 114:119–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwegbue CMA, Emuh FN, Isirimah NO, Egun AC (2007) Fractionation, characterization and speciation of heavy metals in composts and compost-amended soils. Afr J Biotechnol 6(2):067–078

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jain K, Singh J, Chauhan LKS, Murthy RC, Gupta SK (2004) Modulation of flyash-induced genotoxicity in Vicia faba by vermicomposting. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 59:89–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalamdhad AS, Singh YK, Ali M, Khwairakpam M, Kazmi AA (2009) Rotary drum composting of vegetable waste and tree leaves. Bioresour Technol 100:6442–6450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang J, Zhang Z, Wang JJ (2011) Influence of humic substances on bioavailability of Cu and Zn during sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 102:8022–8026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaushik P, Garg VK (2003) Vermicomposting of mixed solid textile mill sludge and cow dung with epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. Bioresour Technol 90:311–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khwairakpam M, Bhargava R (2009) Vermitechnology for sewage sludge recycling. J Hazard Mater 161:948–954

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Xu Z, Wu J, Tian G (2010) Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the earthworm Eisenia fetida in relation to bioavailable metal concentrations in pig manure. Bioresour Technol 101:3430–3436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maity S, Padhy PK, Chaudhury S (2008) The role of earthworm Lampito mauritii (Kinberg) in amending lead and zinc treated soil. Bioresour Technol 99:7291–7298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra VK, Tripathi BD (2009) Accumulation of chromium and zinc from aqueous solutions using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). J Hazard Mater 164:1059–1063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh J, Kalamdhad AS (2012) Reduction of heavy metals during composting—a review. Int J Environ Prot 2(9):36–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh J, Kalamdhad AS (2013a) Assessment of bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals during rotary drum composting of green waste (water hyacinth). Ecol Eng 52:59–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh J, Kalamdhad AS (2013b) Bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals during water hyacinth composting. Chem Speciat Bioavailab 25(1):1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skodras G, Grammelis P, Prokopidou M, Kakaras E, Sakellaropoulos G (2009) Chemical, leaching and toxicity characteristics of CFB combustion residues. Fuel 88:1201–1209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suthar S (2009) Vermistabilization of municipal sewage sludge amended with sugarcane trash using epigeic Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). J Hazard Mater 163:199–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suthar S, Singh S (2008) Feasibility of vermicomposting in biostabilization of sludge from a distillery industry. Sci Total Environ 394:237–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Environmental Protection Agency Method 1311—toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), 35 p, July 1992

  • Vig AP, Singh J, Wani SH, Dhaliwal SS (2011) Vermicomposting of tannery sludge mixed with cattle dung into valuable manure using earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Bioresour Technol 102:7941–7945

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong JWC, Selvam A (2006) Speciation of heavy metals during co-composting of sewage sludge with lime. Chemosphere 63:980–986

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav A, Garg VK (2009) Feasibility of nutrient recovery from industrial sludge by vermicomposting technology. J Hazard Mater 168:262–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav A, Garg VK (2011) Industrial wastes and sludges management by vermicomposting. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 10:243–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India

    Jiwan Singh & Ajay S. Kalamdhad

Authors
  1. Jiwan Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ajay S. Kalamdhad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiwan Singh.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, J., Kalamdhad, A.S. Reduction of bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals during vermicomposting of water hyacinth. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 8974–8985 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1848-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1848-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation