Abstract

REMOVAL OF LEAD AND CADMIUM POLLUTION BY COLUMN TECHNOLOGY USING CERATOPHYLLUM DEMERSUM

Mokdad M. Jawad, Eman H. Abed and Hisham K. Oudah*

Abstract

Environmental exposure to toxic heavy metals is one of the main critical issues on environmental and public health. Heavy metals are common pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, which are particularly susceptible and often finalreceptor of heavy metals.Phytoremediation with aquatic plants is a new, effective and inexpensive method for improving water qualityand wastewater. In this study, Lead and Cadmium (50 ppm) of industrial water pollutedwere removedby the Aquatic plant, Ceratophyllum demersum L.,as grinded and crushed. Results showed that grinded plant was the best in removing Lead and Cadmium than crushed plant, so, removing concentration of Lead by Ceratophyllum demersum L. grinded and crushed were (38, 37.8, 37.5, 33.1 and 30.8), (23, 22.5, 22.5, 18.4 and 12.2) ppm and removal percentage (76, 75.6, 75, 66.2 and 61.6), (46, 45, 45, 36.8 and 24.4) % at flow rate (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) ml/min respectively. Whereas, removing concentration of Cadmium were (29.5, 29.5, 30, 22.5 and 14.4), (13, 12.5, 12.5, 8.4 and 2.2) ppm and removal percentage (59, 59, 60, 45 and 28.8), (26, 25, 25, 16.8 and 4.4) % at flow rate (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) ml/min respectively.

Keywords: Ceratophyllum, demersum, lead, cadmium, water pollution.