Selective Heavy Metal Uptake by Water Hyacinth: An 8-day EDTATitration-Based Study on Phytoremediation of Iron, Lead andCalcium Ions
Arsh Mishra (1)
(1) The Doon School, Dehradun
Heavy metal water source contamination is an emerging ecological and public health issue because of rising industrial effluent, municipal refuse, and agricultural runoff. Traditionally employed remediation techniques are costly and generate chemical residues, so there has been a drive for finding sustainable and cost-saving remedies. Phytoremediation, or the employment of plants for contaminant removal and immobilisation, is an attractive option. This study examines the phytoremediation potential of Eichhornia crassipes, or Water Hyacinth, a notorious hyperaccumulator plant, in decreasing dissolved levels of calcium (Ca²⁺), iron (Fe²⁺), and lead (Pb²⁺) from artificially contaminated water samples for eight days. 12 plants were utilised in three sets of four plants each, and each set was subjected to one of the metal salts. Each of the plants was placed in a 3-litre water container. Initially, there was a 250 ppm concentration of each salt. One plant per batch was sampled, and titration was carried out every two days to examine metal ion content under laboratory conditions. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) titration was the method used exclusively for determining the concentration of metal ions. Eriochrome Black T pH 10 was an indicator employed in titrating calcium, whereas Xylenol Orange pH 5 was employed in titrating iron and lead content. The outcome of the titration indicated that the concentrations of all three metal ions reduced consistently and considerably with respect to time. The initial concentrations of the three metal ions were 250 ppm. However, the titration capacity of lead dropped to 1.5 mL or 124 ppm, iron to 2.6 mL or 58 ppm, and calcium to 1.4 mL or 22 ppm, which shows a final overall drop of about 50%, 77%, and 91%, respectively, in the three samples. The control samples (3-litre salt solutions without the plant) showed negligible change, proving that the decrease came about through uptake by Eichhornia crassipes. These findings verify the potential phytoremediation capacity of water hyacinth and indicate its viability as a low-cost and environmentally friendly treatment for heavy metal ion stripping from dirty water. Relying entirely on EDTA titration—a low-cost, eco-compatible chemical technique—this study provides direct evidence of metal accumulation and presents a practical path to environmentally benign water treatment technologies, especially in less developed environments.
Keywords: Phytoremediation, Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth), Hyperaccumulator, Water contamination / Wastewater treatment
Article Type: Original Research
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I absolutely loved this study on water hyacinth and its ability to uptake heavy metals! It reminded me of how interconnected our ecosystems are, almost like the cosmic dance of space waves—each element playing its part. It's fascinating to think about how such plants can help clean our waters! Such innovative approaches give me hope for a greener future! 🌿✨
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