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Introduction Soil pollution with heavy metals such as cadmium has become a global environmental concern. Adsorption is widely used as a remediation method due to its advantages, including cost-effectiveness and high performance in removing metal ions. Biochar is an effective way to improve soil properties and act as a sorbent for various toxins. In particular, nanobiochar, with its unique properties such as high specific surface area, has the potential to be one of the most effective soil amendments. Nanobiochar has gained attention recently due to its unique properties and potential applications in various fields. Its high specific surface area and small particle size make it an effective adsorbent for polluted soils and water contaminants. Nanobiochar has demonstrated the ability to adsorb many pollutants, including heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients, making it a promising material for environmental remediation. Despite the potential applications of nanobiochar, more research is needed to fully understand its properties and potential uses. The field of nanobiochar is still emerging, and many questions remain unanswered. Furthermore, the importance of nanobiochar in remediating polluted calcareous soils is not well known. This study aimed to investigate the effect of nanobiochar made from reed on the cadmium adsorption isotherms and kinetics in polluted calcareous soil. Materials and Methods For this research, a composite soil sample was collected from a depth of zero to 30 cm from the farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. The soil sample was air-dried and passed through a two-mm sieve, then some physical and chemical characteristics of the soil were measured. To prepare biochar, the raw common reed was collected, air-dried, and passed through a two-mm sieve, and the common reed was soaked in 0.5 M FeCl2. The raw and Fe-soaked common reed biomass was then pyrolyzed at 500 °C for three hours with a heating rate of six °C min−1 in an electrical furnace under anaerobic conditions. Nanobiochar was prepared using a ball milling method, and its properties were analyzed. To investigate the effect of the adsorbents on the Cd adsorption isotherm and kinetic in soil, an incubation experiment was conducted with three types of adsorbents, including common reed biochar, iron-modified common reed biochar, and common reed nano-biochar at three application rates of 0, 0.5, and 1 % in three replicates for 60 days at a temperature of 25°C. At the end of the incubation period, some soil properties were measured, and the isotherms of cadmium adsorption at different concentrations (zero, five, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg L-1) were determined. The kinetics of cadmium adsorption at Cd concentration of 40 mg L-1 under different periods (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h) were also studied. Then, the experimental data were fitted using nonlinear adsorption and kinetic models, and the model parameters were calculated. Results and Discussion The results showed that reducing the size of biochar to nano-scale increased the specific surface area and cation exchange capacity. The application of nanobiochar at one percent application rate increased the percentage of soil organic matter compared to other treatments. Soil treated with nanobiochar at 0.5 percent and one percent application rates increased soil organic matter by 33.02% and 83.02% compared to the control treatment, respectively. Nanobiochar gave rise to the highest Cd adsorption in the soil. The Langmuir model provided a better fit to the experimental data than the Freundlich and Temkin models. The maximum adsorption capacity of cadmium (qmax) boosted upon adsorbents application, and the highest adsorption capacity was obtained in soil treated with nanobiochar at one percent application rate with maximum Cd adsorption capacity of 1048 mg kg-1 of soil. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided the best fit to the kinetic adsorption data due to its high coefficient of determination (R² ) and low standard error (SE). The adsorption capacity of cadmium (qe) increased with the use of reed biochar, iron-modified reed biochar, and nanobiochar compared to the control treatment, with a higher increase observed at the one percent application rate compared to 0.5 percent. Additionally, the rate constant K² showed a higher surface adsorption rate of cadmium in soil treated with nanobiochar compared to the other treatments. Conclusion In general, the study findings confirmed the effectiveness of nanobiochar produced by ball milling in cadmium adsorption in polluted calcareous soils. The results showed that the nanobiochar amending cadmium-polluted soils demonstrated better improvement compared to biochar treatments. Nanobiochar at one percent application rate was the best treatment for improving soil properties and increasing Cd adsorption due to its exceptional properties (high surface area and improved adsorption capabilities). As a result, the application of nanobiochar as an adsorbent offers environmental and economic advantages. The application of nanobiochar as a strong and effective adsorbent for cadmium removal from the soil can be considered as an effective solution to protect the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining activities introduce countless contaminants into the environment, including toxic levels of heavy metals that accumulate in soil and water, requiring environmental management to prevent detrimental effects. One strategy is to use plants because of their natural ability to adsorb and accumulate different contaminants in their tissues. To develop a rhizofiltration technique for mine wastewater in Botswana, there is a need to identify suitable aquatic plant species which can remove heavy metals from acid mine drainage and associated sediments. Plant species growing in the vicinity of acid mine drainage at the BCL mine were sampled and analyzed for heavy metal concentration in the various plant tissues. The plants analyzed were: Cyperus papyrus; Phragmites australis; Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani; and Baumea rubiginosa. These plants all accumulated above‐average concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in their tissues, especially Cr, Cu, and Ni. C. papyrus accumulates more Cr (up to 6080.86 mg kg−1in shoots and 5047.15 mg kg−1 in roots), Cu (up to 2166.43 mg kg−1 in roots and 1231.12 mg kg−1 in shoots), and Ni (up to 949.97 mg kg−1 in roots and 1163.42 mg kg−1 in shoots). P. australis accumulates more Cu in roots (up to 7416.87 mg kg−1) than in shoots (221.71 mg kg−1). S. tabernaemontani accumulates more Ni than Cu and Cr which it mostly retains in the roots (1015.88 mg kg−1). B. rubiginosa accumulates more Cu than Ni with a concentration up to 927.36 mg kg−1 in shoots and 401.70 mg kg−1 in roots (BAF 35.53; TF 0.90). Among these plants' species, C. papyrus had the ability for multi‐metal accumulation, retaining Cr, Cu, and Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in aquatic plants is critical in assessing the quality of aquatic environments and the risks associated with anthropogenic activities. This research involved using Phragmites australis as a bioindicator in a comprehensive assessment of the spatial variation in pollution within the Bug River catchment, employing advanced statistical methods to identify pollution sources. The study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PTEs in different parts of the P. australis plant and to evaluate their suitability as bioindicators of contamination. Plant samples were collected from 32 locations in the Bug River catchment, and the concentrations of metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that PTE accumulation was highest in the roots, underscoring their crucial role in monitoring metal concentrations. Metal concentrations differed based on land use within the catchment area, with the highest levels observed in urbanized regions, highlighting the significant impact of human activities like wastewater discharge and transport emissions. The highest concentrations were observed for Fe, Mn, and Zn, while Cd concentrations were notably elevated in agricultural areas. The analyses confirmed that P. australis serves as an effective bioindicator of heavy metal contamination and can be employed in long-term biomonitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have emerged as effective biotechnological solutions for wastewater treatment in recent decades. While plants are recognized components of these systems, their specific role in nutrient and heavy metal (HM) uptake warrants further investigation. This study assesses the efficacy of a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) unit planted with Phragmites australis in treating HM-laden wastewater. Through standard methods, wastewater samples from inlet and outlet were analyzed for HMs (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu), alongside plant and sediment samples. Planted CWs demonstrated remarkable removal efficiencies: 89.34% for Cd, 76.27% for Zn, 68.14% for Cu, and 66.42% for Pb, surpassing unplanted systems (18.27% to 33.16% removal). Notably, P. australis exhibited strategic pollutant absorption, with highest HM concentrations below-ground. Though above-ground HM accumulation was relatively minor, it exceeded soil concentrations. Analysis of accumulation factors confirmed roots and rhizomes as primary bio-accumulators, with transfer factor values (Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu) indicating efficient uptake. These findings underscore the pivotal role of P. australis in enhancing HM removal within VFCW systems, emphasizing the importance of plant-based strategies in HM remediation. Recommendations include further exploration of plant-assisted methods to optimize HM treatment in CWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination is a serious global issue that threatens both environmental and human health. This study investigated the levels of 12 heavy metals in sediments, roots, stems, and leaves of Phragmites australis (common reed) from a river in Iran, using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The sediment metal concentration order was: Aluminum (Al) > Iron (Fe) > Manganese (Mn) > Zinc (Zn) > Magnesium (Mg) > Nickel (Ni) > Chromium (Cr) > Lead (Pb) > Copper (Cu) > Arsenic (As) > Vanadium (V) with Cadmium (Cd) below detection limit. Concentrations of As, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediments exceeded background values. According to sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), metal concentrations were between the threshold effect level (TEL) and the probable effect level (PEL), remaining below the severe effect level (SEL), except for Ni. Average metal concentrations in plant tissues were lower than in sediment samples, with roots showing higher levels of Cd, V, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Al, Mg, and Fe than in the shoots, while leaves had higher Ni, Cr, and Mn. The bioaccumulation factor of less than 1 (except for V) indicates limited bioavailibility of these metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sludge treatment reed bed planted (STRB) with Phragmites australis (P.australis) and Arundo donax (A.donax) was assessed in the presence of Eisenia fetida under control condition during the dry season. Worm-planted units were fed with mixed sewage sludge (dry and volatile solids of 29.44 g DS.L−1 and 24.23 g VS.L−1). Sludge loading rates (SLR) of 50, 60, and 70 kg DS m−2 year−1 were examined to assess dewatering efficiency. Surface layers in units with P.australis and A.donax achieved DS of 80 and 81% at a loading rate of 50 kg DS m−2 year−1, while their subsurface DS were 41 and 25%, respectively. Units with A.donax experienced plant loss when subjected to SLR exceeding 60 kg DS m−2 year−1. More than 10 cm of residual sludge accumulated on the top of units after a 2-month final rest. Evapotranspiration was greater in the unit with P.australis (5.23 mm day−1) compared to the unit with A.donax (4.24 mm day−1) while both were fed with 70 kg DS m−2 year−1. Water loss contributions from residual sludge layer, drained water, and evapotranspiration were 3, 46, and 51%, respectively. Units with P.australis indicated 20% higher water loss compared to units with A.donax. Although the drained water quality improved over time, it did not meet standard limits. The residual sludge layer contained macro and micronutrients, and heavy metals with a significant elemental order of N > Ca > P > S > mg > K (N:P:K = 31:8:1), Fe > Na > B > Mn > Mo and Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. Overall, STRB could be a sustainable alternative technology to conventional sewage sludge management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From tannery effluent (TE) severely polluted with heavy metals (HMs viz., Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb), hydrophytic phytoextraction remains a challenge as transplanted plants succumb to death on facing acclimatization shock. Current study was aimed at diluting TE with harvested rainwater (HR) for improving HM phytoextraction potential of Phragmites australis (a hydrophyte) assisted with phycoremediation of coupled algae (viz., Oedogonium sp. and Pithophora sp.). The TE:HR dilutions (TEDs) 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (v/v) included three sets: set-1 included algae only, set-2 included P. australis only and set-3 included P. australis coupled with combined algal inoculum. Results showed that P. australis assisted with HR dilution and combined algal inoculum showed significantly greater uptake of HMs from each of the TEDs than respective control treatments. Combined algal application in the TEDs proved phycoremediation assistants based on their bioaccumulation factor (BF). The dry biomass of P. australis in TEDs applied with phycoremediation assistants remained greater than uninoculated ones. Overall, HM translocation factor (TF) of P. australis for Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb remained ≥ 1. The study concludes that HM phytoextraction is substantially increased when concentrated TE is diluted with HR and assisted with phycoremediation of HM tolerant algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial effluents pose a serious environmental problem, because they contain toxic contaminants mainly heavy metals that are the most dangerous to humans, animals, plants, and the environment in general. Phytoremediation using macrophytes is an adopted technique for the environment decontamination due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The present study aims to highlight the capabilities of macrophytes to remove heavy metals from wastewater of Biskra region (Algeria). The methodology consists of filling out the filters planted with Arundo donax and Phragmites australis with raw industrial wastewater, then recovering decontaminated water after 15 days to assess removal of lead, copper, zinc, and iron. Both plants had shown a good efficiency for the removal of metals loaded in wastewater eliminating about 94 to 98% of initial concentration. In addition, calculated bioaccumulation factor (BAF) had confirmed the accumulation of heavy metals in different parts of experimental plants; recorded values of BAF > 1 allowed the consideration of Arundo donax and Phragmites australis as good hyper-accumulator plants. Obtained results confirm the efficiency of phytoremediation technology using macrophytes for the wastewater treatment in particular and the environment decontamination in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Heavy metals removal from industrial wastewater of Biskra (Algeria) by Arundo donax and Phragmites australis" published in the journal Environmental Monitoring & Assessment. The correction addresses errors in the placement and labeling of figures in the article. The corrected captions for Figure 3 and Figure 4 are provided, and it is noted that Figure 5 was missing from the original publication. The correction notice is authored by Sarra Badache and Nora Seghairi and published by Springer Nature. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, the wastewater analyses of Oued K'sob for one year showed a spatiotemporal diminution of zinc content seasonally, it rest light than copper. But Zinc and copper a threat to the environment of the region. The wastewater analyses of Oued K'sob water for one year showed a spatiotemporal diminution of zinc content seasonally, with a minimum and maximum range of 249 ± 219 µg/l and 2382 ± 3426 µg/l obtained in autumn and summer for the zinc and 75 ± 24 µg/l and 433 ± 310 µg/l obtained in winter and spring at the first and fifth station for the copper. These concentrations of zinc and copper a threat to the environment of the region. Like a solution for this problem, the absorption, accumulation and translocation abilities of Phragmites australis were determined toward iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). In the soils contaminated by different concentrations (100, 200 and 500 mg/L), the absorption, accumulation and transport ability of elements were evaluated via the Bio-concentration (BCF), Bioaccumulation (BF) and Translocation (TF) factors. A proportional increase between the BCF, BFs, TFs and the irrigation concentrations, where BCFs of all metallic elements exceed 1 and the Zn BCF, BFs and TFL are the highest and exceed 1 relative to the other elements which remain lower than 1, which has a low accumulation. Therefore, according to the BCFs obtained and which exceed 1, we can consider this plant as a hyper-accumulator of Zn, Fe, Cu and Pb. Extraction of fatty and organic acids followed by HPLC confirmed the oxalic, citric, malic, succinic, fumaric, formic, acetic, propionic, and butyric acid presence, which are responsible for the transport of the metal from roots to leaves. In the light of these results, we can therefore propose Phragmites australis species as an alternative and natural solution to reduce the high concentrations of zinc and copper in the Oued k'sob (region of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria). The main objective of this study was to carry out and determine the phyto-remedial effect of Phragmites australis species in pots from artificial contaminated soils in order to classify this plant as an accumulator or hyper-accumulator of metals, in particular against zinc, iron, copper and lead in order to reduce their toxicities in the environment through decontamination and/or protection of the ecosystems (soil and water); and why not use this bioremediation system via this species during wastewater treatment at wastewater treatment plants to increase the quality of treatment of one side and reduce the cost on the other side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the effort to identify sustainable sludge management options, pilot-scale sludge treatment reed beds (STRBs) were tested and assessed in the Sultanate of Oman in the first integrated experimental study of this nature-based solution in the Middle East region. A total of 18 pilot STRB units were established and monitored for almost 2 years; half were planted with native Phragmites australis reed species, and half served as unplanted control units. Employing a randomized complete block design, the study examined varying sludge loading rates (SLR) of 75, 100, and 125 kg/m2/year. Results underscored the effectiveness of STRBs in reducing the sludge volume, with observed reductions reaching 98.0% of the applied sludge volume, particularly prominent in the SLR75 units. During the final resting phase, the STRBs showed slightly higher concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total phosphorus (TP) compared to the unplanted beds, while maintaining concentrations lower than those of the applied activated sludge. Furthermore, heavy metal concentrations were consistently diminished in the STRBs compared to the unplanted beds, aligning with the established national and international standards for sludge reuse in agricultural contexts. The results of this study provide the first valuable insight into the potential of STRBs as an effective, sustainable, and climatically suitable approach for sludge dewatering. Specifically, an SLR of 100 kg/m2/year is proposed as an optimum loading rate for the hot and arid Middle East climate. This study advances our understanding of STRBs as a pivotal component in the realm of arid-region sludge treatment, shedding light on their capacity to facilitate enhanced dewatering, mineralization, and nutrient removal, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable waste management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project evaluated the potential of common reed to recover heavy metals as valuable products. Common reeds were grown in 25, 50, or 75 ppm Ni2+ and/or Cu2+ solutions for 4 weeks to evaluate its potential to uptake metals followed by converting the contaminated biomass to valuable products by hydrothermal conversion (HTC). The higher concentration of metals in solution, the more metals accumulated in plants. Most metals were sequestered in the roots of reeds. Roots and stems treated with binary metals contained less Ni2+/Cu2+ than those cultured in single metal. The yields of bio-oils and hydrochars from reeds treated with different levels of metals were similar. About 6–10% of the total biomass were transferred to bio-oil, while 50–60% of the biomass were produced as hydrochars. The results suggest that metal accumulated in reeds does not affect the utilization of contaminated reeds via HTC. About 0.1–1.5% of Cu2+ and/or Ni2+ absorbed in biomass were transmitted from contaminated reeds to bio-oils after HTC at 250 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developed areas of the coal industry are subjected to long-term anthropogenic impacts from the input and accumulation of overburdened coal material, containing potentially toxic heavy metals and metalloids (HMM). For the first time, comprehensive studies of soils and plants in the territory of the Donetsk coal basin were carried out using X-ray fluorescence, atomic absorption analysis, and electron microscopy. The observed changes in the soil redox conditions were characterized by a high sulfur content, and formations of new microphases of S-containing compounds: FeS2, PbFe6(SO4)4(OH)12, ZnSO4·nH2O, revealed the presence of technogenic salinization, increased Сorg content, and low pH contents. Exceedances of soil maximum permissible concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and As in areas affected by coal dumps were apparent. As a consequence of long-term transformation of the environment with changes in properties and chemical pollution, a phytotoxic effect was revealed in Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud, accompanied by changes in ultrastructural and organization features of roots and leaves such as increases in root diameters and thickness of leaf blades. The changes in the ultrastructure of cell organelles: a violation of the grana formation process, an increase in the number of plastoglobules, a decrease in the number of mitochondrial cristae, and a reduction in the electron density of the matrix in peroxisomes were also observed. The accumulation of large electron-dense inclusions and membrane fragments in cell vacuoles was observed. Such ultrastructural changes may indicate the existence of a P. australis ecotype due to its long-term adaptation to the disturbed environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax and Phragmites australis were examined in 4 different periods (June and October for 2 years), heavy metal and mineral element accumulations in plants were evaluated, and water-soil-plant relationships were revealed. Element distributions, bioaccumulation factors (BAF) and translocation factors (TF) in different parts of the investigated plant species were also determined. BAFs of elements calculated by using the concentration values in underground parts and sediment samples were between 1.02 and 4.96. While the highest TF was determined as 8.07 for Zn between washed leaf and stem in A. donax, the lowest TF was determined as 0.05 for Fe between stem and underground part. Corresponding highest and lowest TFs for P. australis were 11.80 for Cu between washed leaf and stem, and 0.02 for Fe between stem and underground part, respectively. The results were supported by MANOVA statistical analyzes. Additionally, the macro-micro elements and heavy metal accumulation levels in the parts of the Orontes River ecosystem were significantly higher in the fall periods compared to the spring periods. Our research revealed that the versatile accumulation properties and high accumulation ability of A. donax for Cd, Cr, and Ni and of P. australis for Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The Orontes River passes through the regions of three different countries with high population density and developed economies. This study presents the current state of the relationship between the element types and their concentrations in the sediments in the Orontes River ecosystem and the ecophysiological parameters of the river. In this study, the focus was on the Türkiye-Hatay region of the Orontes River, the water-soil-plant relationship in this region was revealed in detail, and valuable data were compiled for researchers who will conduct research on the river ecophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to study the accumulation of heavy metals Cadmium, Lead, Chromium, and Nickel in different aquatic plants along the Tigris River. The research focused on the seasonal variations in heavy metal uptake by Phragmites australis, Typha domingensis, Persicaria salicifolia, Azolla filiculoides, and Ceratophyllum demersum. Samples were collected from three distinct locations along the river, each characterized by varied environmental conditions. Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, the quantified metal concentrations were measured, revealing significant differences across seasons and locations. The study provides crucial insights into the dynamics of heavy metal accumulation in riverine ecosystems, underscoring the role of environmental factors and plant species in metal uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to determine the concentrations of some heavy metals of lead, cadmium, and chromium in the roots and stems of Phragmites australis collected from the Al-Sabeel River in Iraq. Samples were collected at four selected sites in three provinces of Najaf, Diwaniyah, and Samawah over a distance of 114 km, from August 2022 to January 2023. The results reveal that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in the roots and stems of the reeds as 134.28-91.21, 189.47-180, and 190.57-97.9 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Cr was the most accumulated element in the stem, while Cd was the most accumulated in the roots. The results also showed that the stem accumulates heavy metals more than the roots, indicating the possibility of using the reed as an indicator of heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals (HMs), like chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), are toxic pollutants frequently detected in industrial wastewater. In this study, column‐type vertical‐flow constructed wetlands (CWs) filled with different substrates were examined for their ability to remove Cr, Mn, and Ni, focusing on their applicability to high HM concentrations (tens of mg/L) and short hydraulic retention times (2 days). Five candidate substrates—gravel, limestone, reddish soil, wood pellets, and activated carbon—were screened for their ability to remove 6 mg/L of the three HMs, revealing that reddish soil and activated carbon removed all three HMs efficiently. Further experiments to remove 60 mg/L of HMs were conducted using CWs filled with reddish soil or activated carbon with or without planting Phragmites australis. The results indicated that (1) substrate adsorption contributed exclusively to HM removal and the effects of planting may be negligible, and (2) activated carbon (removal efficiency of 74–99%, 98–99%, and 99% for Cr, Mn, and Ni, respectively) is likely a more promising substrate than reddish soil (removal efficiency of 90–99%, 48–99%, and 61–99% for Cr, Mn, and Ni, respectively) in light of its ability to achieve efficient HM removal under high loading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study which was carried out between July 2019 and April 2020 aimed to determine the seasonal changes of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) in plant organs of Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia grown in Eğirdir Lake and to research the usability of the these plants for phytoremediation with the calculation of bioaccumulation factor (BF). Plant samples were brought to the laboratory, and then washed, cleaned with distilled water, dried in an oven at 70 °C and acidified with 10 ml HNO3. The samples were heated at 120 °C on a hot plate until completely mineralized. After mineralization, heavy metal concentrations were determined by using ICP-AES (Vista model). Only Mo was the highest in leaf, while other metals were highest in root in P. australis. In T. angustifolia, Mn and Mo were highest in the leaf, the accumulation of other metals was observed to be higher in the plant's roots than the other organs. It was discovered that the metal concentrations in root, in stem, and in leaf for both macrophytes generally increased in summer and decreased in root in autumn and winter and in stem and in leaf in spring for P. australis and in all organs in spring for T. angustifolia. Bioaccumulation factor (BF) values were calculated to determine the phytoremediation potential of P. australis and T. angustifolia. Both macrophytes are not excluder for all metals. Plants revealed potential for phytoremediation for the removal of heavy metals especially Mo and Zn. As a result of our study, it was determined that both macrophytes had accumulation abilities especially for Mo and Zn. It should be taken into consideration that these macrophytes can be used for improving the current situation of Eğirdir Lake due to their advantages such as being economical and not causing any harm to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of water, sediment, and three aquatic plants, namely Phragmites australis, Typha domingensis, and Eichhornia crassipes, collected from ten stations were analyzed to estimate the pollution status with heavy metals in two drains (Kitchener and New Damietta) in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Ten indices were used to evaluate the ecological risk released by these metals. Results revealed high concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Cd in the Kitchener Drain water, while Fe was recorded in high concentrations in the New Damietta Drain water. Cu, Pb, Fe, and Cd were recorded to be within the Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) (2002) and World Health Organisation (2011) limits for water. A high concentration of Cu, Pb, and Fe was found in the New Damietta Drain sediment, while Cd was found in a high concentration in the Kitchener Drain sediment. Cu, Fe, and Cd were recorded to be within US-EPA (2002) limits for sediments, while Pb exceeded the permissible limits. Eichhornia crassipes accumulates higher concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Cd than the other plant species, while Phragmites australis exhibited the highest concentration of Fe. The study's plant species showed a decreased rate of metal translocation and distribution from their belowground tissues to their aboveground tissues, as indicated by the translocation factor values that were below one. As a result, the studied species accumulate heavy metals in their underground parts and do not effectively transfer metals from the belowground to the aerial parts. Thus, the examined species may be used to phytostabilize metal-polluted sediment as metal excluders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aims of the current study were to understand the variation in the abundance, diversity and structure of the diazotrophic communities in the rhizosphere soil of these three dominant plant species around Siding Pb–Zn mine. Methods: Three dominant plant species (Pteris vittata, Miscanthus floridulus and Phragmites australis) were randomly selected, and rhizosphere soils were sampled from the rhizosphere of the plants. Results: The nifH gene abundance in the rhizosphere soil of Pteris vittata was the highest among the three plant species. Variations in rhizosphere soil diazotrophic communities were mainly due to the changes in soil nutrient contents through plant‒soil system interactions. Diversity and structure of soil diazotrophic communities, including Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria and Cyanobacteria, were strongly influenced by soil heavy metals, ammonium nitrogen, soil moisture and available phosphorus contents. In addition, soil enzymes, especially urease, protease and alkaline phosphatase activities, also contributed to the structure of the diazotrophic communities. Alphaproteobacteria and Cyanobacteria play vital roles in the soil biological nitrogen fixation process. Heavy metal enrichment in mines provides electron donors for diazotrophs to support their activities in harsh environments. Diazotrophs can provide N to support plant growth in mines to help restore heavy metal-containing soil by dominant plants. Conclusions: Our results showed the variations in diazotrophic community compositions in rhizosphere soil of three dominant plants and their impact on heavy metal accumulation. This study will help to determine the role and importance of soil properties and plant species in the soil biological nitrogen fixation process in highly contaminated mine areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of soil and aerial mass of Calamagrostis acutiflora were obtained from an urban area adjacent to a street. The sampled material was analyzed to determine the content of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Co, in addition to which soil was analyzed for the content of total organic carbon (TOC), salinity (EC) and reaction (pH). Based on the results, the enrichment factor (EF) and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) of heavy metals as well as correlations between the analyzed characteristics were calculated. The content of heavy metals in the soil did not exceed the standards set for transportation areas, but the EF value implicated anthropogenic enrichment of soils with Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Co. Numerous, highly significant and positive correlations were obtained between the content of the elements in the soil, plants and in the soil-plant system, which suggests their relatively high bioavailability. The BAC values achieved for Co, Cr, Cu, Cd and Ni indicate that Calamagrostis acutiflora can be a useful species for phytoextraction of these elements from urban soils. Moreover, Calamagrostis acutiflora is a good choice for planting in urban areas due to its good adaptability, long growing season and tall conformation. This study enabled us to the determine the usefulness of Calamagrostis acutiflora for phytoextraction of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Co) from urban soils exposed to transportation pressure. This aspect of the said grass species has not been evaluated previously; meanwhile, owing to its high esthetic value, the grass can be an interesting choice in the landscaping of urban areas. The evaluation was based on determinations of the elements in the soil and in aerial biomass of Calamagrostis acutiflora sampled from an urban area adjacent to a busy street. The phytoremediation potential of Calamagrostis acutiflora was assessed according to the calculated biological accumulation coefficient (BAC). Furthermore, the enrichment factor (EF) for the heavy metals in the soil was determined, which enabled us to identify the extent of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Other determinations included basic soil physicochemical properties (TOC, pH, EC), which in practice will facilitate a choice of sites to be planted with Calamagrostis acutiflora in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern urban societies generate tremendous amounts of hazardous wastes, including toxic organics and metals. Toxic metals harm plants and pose a risk to human health; examples of them are copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), palladium (Pb), and cadmium (Cd). Wetland plants are excellent for the ecological restoration of toxic metal-affected environments. Phragmites australis (common reed) belongs to the family Poaceae and is a broadly distributed wetland grass that is native to Bahrain, Europe, and America. P. australis shows a high content of chlorophyll. This study aimed to assess percentages of water, chlorophyll, and toxic metal content using acetone extraction; the calculation of the concentrations was performed according to the equations proposed by Lichtenthaler and the percentage of water content was calculated. After the metal exposure, the reed plants were digested, and their total mineral analysis was accomplished by atomic absorption spectroscopy; statistical analysis was conducted by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The results revealed that the immature stage showed the highest chlorophyll a (mean 1641.5 (µg/g)) carotenoids (mean 359.75 (µg/g)) and total chlorophyll (mean 2183.93 (µg/g)), and the mature flowering stem had the highest chlorophyll b (mean 676.45 (µg/g)). The mature flowering stem stage showed the highest Pb (mg/L) and Cd (mg/L) values; on the other hand, Cu was the highest in the fully elongated non-flowering stage (0.108 mg/L), and the highest Zn content was found in the immature stage (mean 2.083). Owing to its growth in contaminated environments, P. australis can be considered a potential source of phytonutrients; higher concentrations were mostly available in the immature and mature flowering stages, with a favorable immature stage. The use of such marginal wetland plants may be very useful in reducing the pollution burden of urban built environments. These plants offer a green and sustainable solution for the disposal of waste from urban areas. Hence, further planning and execution of such a green solution are pivotal for creating environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, with an increase in population, water demand is also increasing, but on the other hand, water availability is continuously decreasing due to various factors. Contamination of existing water bodies is the main factor for the freshwater shortage. Conventional methods are there to treat polluted water, but their construction and operational cost are very high. Phytoremediation is an economical, solar-driven, green plants (macrophytes) based, environment-friendly technology being researched worldwide. Many researchers contributed to identifying the potential of phytoremediation to treat different types of wastewater. Along the same line, an attempt has been made with this literature survey to contribute to technological advancement. The study results showed that water hyacinth plants could potentially treat almost all types of wastewater. Still, their use with other plants like Phragmites australis, Azolla filiculoides, Lemna minor, Typha latifolia, etc., as polyculture (mixed culture) could perform way better than the individual. It not only improves the efficiency of phytoremediation but also helps some plants to grow and perform for a long duration when used in mixed culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of heavy metal pollution are essential for the protection of coastal environments. In this study, positive matrix factorization (PMF) and a GeoDetector model were used to evaluate the sources of heavy metal contamination and associated ecological risks along the Yancheng Coastal Wetland. The distribution of heavy metals was shown to be greatly affected by clay content, except for Cr in shoal. Components from 6.5 to 9φ have the strongest ability to absorb heavy metals, where the effects of Cd and Zn sequestration in the wetlands were most apparent. The abilities of various wetland environments to sequester heavy metals were shown to be Spartina alterniflora wetland > woodland > Phragmites australis wetland > aquaculture pond > shoal > paddy > meadow > dry land. The sources of the heavy metals included parent soil material (59%), agriculture (15%), and industrial pollutants (26%). According to the single-factor pollution index, there was no evidence of pollution except Cr and Pb. In general, the heavy metal pollution was insignificant. The order of pollution loading index was shoal > paddy field > dry land > Spartina Alterniflora wetland > aquaculture ponds > woodland > meadow > Phragmites australis wetland. The ecological harm of heavy metal exposure was slight except for Cd and Hg, where vehicle emissions appeared to be the main cause of heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to provide a comparative analysis related to the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr) in the tissues (stem, leaves, panicle) of the common reed (Phragmites australis). The reed samples were collected from 10 different sampling stations located in Danube Delta Reservation Biosphere, 2 sampling station from Lake Brate? and 2 sampling station situated on a tributary of the Danube River (Chineja River), Romania. The concentration of heavy metals varied depending on the location, the lowest values were found in plants located on the course of the Chineja River. As well, depending on the plant structure, was observed that the panicle contained the lowest concentrations of the chosen heavy metals for the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and additional aeration (AA), as two approaches to improve the functioning of treatment wetlands, can further promote the capacity of wetlands to purify pollutants. The extent to which, and mechanisms by which, AMF and AA purify wetlands polluted by combined heavy metals (HMs) are not well understood. In this study, the effects and mechanisms of AMF and/or AA on combined HMs removal in vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) with the Phragmites australis (reeds) were investigated at different HMs concentrations. The results showed that (1) AA improved the AMF colonization in VFCWs and AMF accumulated the combined HMs in their structures; (2) AMF inoculation and/or AA significantly promoted the reeds growth and antioxidant enzymes activities, thereby alleviating oxidative stress; (3) AMF inoculation and AA significantly enhanced the removal rates of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd under the stress of high combined HMs concentrations comparing to the control check (CK) treatment (autoclaved AMF inoculation and no aeration), which increased by 22.72%, 30.31%, 12.64%, and 50.22%, respectively; (4) AMF inoculation and/or AA significantly promoted the combined HMs accumulation in plant roots and substrates and altered the distribution of HMs at the subcellular level. We therefore conclude that AMF inoculation and/or AA in VFCWs improves the purification of combined HM-polluted water, and the VFCWs-reeds-AMF/AA associations exhibit great potential for application in remediation of combined HM-polluted wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is great interest in the use of plant waste to obtain materials for environmental protection. In this study, silica powders were prepared with a simple and low-cost procedure from biomass materials such as horsetail and common reed, as well as wheat and rye straws. The starting biomass materials were leached in a boiling HCl solution. After washing and drying, the samples were incinerated at 700 °C for 1 h in air. The organic components of the samples were burned leaving final white powders. These powders were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and low-temperature nitrogen sorption. The amorphous powders (biosilica) contained mainly SiO2, as indicated by FTIR analysis. Horsetail-derived silica was chosen for testing the removal of dichromate ions from water solutions. This biosilica had a good ability to adsorb Cr(VI) ions, which increased after modification of the powder with the dodecylamine surfactant. It can be concluded that the applied procedure allowed obtaining high purity biosilica from plant waste with good efficiency. The produced biosilica was helpful in removing chromium ions and showed low cytotoxicity to human endothelial cells, suggesting that it can be safely used in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing an acute shortage of high-quality water, which is further aggravated due to inadequate and nonrenewable groundwater resources. Hence, it is crucial to explore other alternatives, such as natural wastewater treatment (phytoremediation), for water supplies that can both lower the dependence on groundwater resources and overcome the challenges and limitations associated with conventional wastewater treatment technologies. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to study the performance and efficiency of green plants such as Typha latifolia L. (T. latifolia) (broadleaf cattail) and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Train, ex Steud. (P. australis) (common reed) for wastewater treatment in eastern Saudi Arabia. The experiment was conducted in fiberglass tanks (each with a capacity of 4.0 × 7.0 × 0.5 m3) in the field. There were a total of 4 fiberglass tanks with 2 replications. A percent decrease of 72.86% and 49.74%, 39.30% and 18.07%, 39.84% and 52.87%, 38.73% and 40.86%, 74.49% and 57.82%, and 66.82% and 63.14% was observed for turbidity, TSS, nitrate, ammonia, BOD, and COD by growing P. australis and T. latifolia, respectively. Heavy metals such as aluminum, zinc, and arsenic showed a considerable reduction in pollutants in treated water compared to raw wastewater under both plants. Overall, it appears that the improvement in wastewater quality was better by growing P. australis than T. latifolia; however, there were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two plant means in their performance of raw wastewater treatment. The study results indicate that green plants could be used in a phytoremediation system to treat wastewater in rural and small communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitats that are contaminated by toxic elements were recently shown to host abundant and diverse assemblages of bees and wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata), including numerous threatened species. However, toxic elements adversely affect insect fitness. We address the effects of toxic elements on aculeate inquilines that occupy Lipara lucens-induced galls on the common reed, Phragmites australis. We hypothesized that contamination of potential nesting and feeding habitats is associated with adverse changes in bee and wasp populations that are attracted in these environments. To address this hypothesis, we analyzed the contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, and S in site-matched samples of soil, reed galls, and crabronid wasp bodies and correlated them with abundance and species richness of aculeate hymenopterans in reed galls and with the number of larvae in nests of the eudominant hymenopteran, Pemphredon fabricii. The common reed was present at all the examined sites, and L. lucens-induced galls were present at all but one sampling site; the single exception was the sampling site with the highest contents of four of the seven analyzed elements. The alpha diversity of gall-associated aculeate inquilines, abundance of P. fabricii, and number of prepupae per nest of P. fabricii were not correlated with the contents of any of the seven analyzed toxic elements. We found P. fabricii to be abundantly present in habitats with extreme concentrations of toxic elements. Exposed P. fabricii accumulated Cd, Cu, and Pb, while they eliminated Fe and Zn. The obtained data did not support the hypothesis that heavy metal contamination of anthropogenic sites affects P. fabricii and other reed gall-associated aculeates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two types of constructed wetland (CW), vertical subsurface flow (VSSF) and horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF), both planted with Phragmites australis, were established to treat wastewater. It was retained for three days in which the samples were collected 24, 48, and 72 hours after the initial filling. The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the HPI index using some heavy metals and investigate the degree of heavy metal pollution using this index. The dissolved metals declined in general throughout the operation days in both systems. Vertical and Horizontal subsurface flow systems effectively removed Al, Cd, Cu, and Ni. The decline in dissolved metals concentration was clearly observed in the HPI value. Therefore, HPI can be a very effective method and easy tool to review the level of pollution in heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to understand the behavior of aquatic plants subjected to xenobiotics, a macrophyte plant Phragmites australis from the region of Souk-Ahras, is treated with three concentrations based on zinc oxide (ZnO) (3, 6 and 12 nmol·mL-1) for 7, 14 and 21 days. A measurement of certain biochemical and enzymatic parameters characteristic of oxidative stress allowed us to evaluate not only the effect of zinc oxide but also the behavior of Phragmites australis subjected to this nanometric molecule. The statistical analysis of the results obtained showed no significant differences in all the parameters measured, between leaves and roots. The results of the analysis of heavy metals in wastewater, revealed values lower than the Algerian norm with the exception of Zn. On the other hand, we noticed a high concentration of Zn and a low concentration of Fe and Pb. This result makes it possible to conclude that the wastewater is characterized by a pollution of the metallic type loaded with partially degradable effluents.

Symbiotic associations with rhizospheric microbial communities coupled with the production of metabolites are key adaptive mechanisms by metallophytes to overcome metal stress. However, little is known about pseudometallophyte Phragmites australis interactions with fungal community despite commonly being applied in wetland phytoremediation of acid mine drainage (AMD). In this study, fungal community diversity and metabolomes production by rhizosphere and root endosphere of P. australis growing under three different AMD pollution gradient were analyzed. Our results highlight the following: 1) Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were dominant phyla, but the diversity and richness of taxa were lower within AMD sites with Penicillium, Candida, Saccharomycetales, Vishniacozyma, Trichoderma, Didymellaceae, and Cladosporium being enriched in the root endosphere and rhizosphere in AMD sites than non-AMD site; 2) non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) of 73 metabolomes revealed spatially defined metabolite exudation by distinct root parts (rhizosphere vs endosphere) rather than AMD sites, with significant variability occurring within the rhizosphere correlating to pH, TDS, Fe, Cr, Cu and Zn content changes; 3) canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) confirmed specific rhizospheric fungal taxonomic changes are driven by pH, TDS, heavy metals, and stress-related metabolomes produced. This is the first report that gives a snapshot on the complex endophytic and rhizospheric fungal community structure and metabolites perturbations that may be key in the adaptability and metal phytoremediation by P. australis under AMD environment.

The retention of heavy metal (HM) was studied in root and rhizomes (BLG), stems (ST), and leaves (LF) of Phragmites australis (common reed) seedlings collected from different locations, differing in the scale of anthropogenic interference. The analysis includes the reference samples of sediments in uncontaminated lake Garczonki and contaminated roadside ditch in Cieplewo. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr were analyzed in plant tissues and sediments using the atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The general assessment of sediments collected in the Garczonki lake showed a good environmental status; while in the roadside ditch in Cieplewo, the sediments were considerably polluted with HM. In the first stage of plant growth, all of the analyzed HMs are mainly inhibited by BLG system. The decreasing trend of elements was as follows: BLG > ST > LF. The organs followed different decreasing trends of HM concentration; the trend Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd was found in ST and LF for the Garczonki lake seedlings and for BLG and LF for the roadside ditch in Cieplewo seedlings. Zn showed the highest concentration, while Cd the lowest concentration in each of the examined organs. The bioaccumulation factor indicated the higher mobility of HM in seedlings in the Garczonki lake than in the roadside ditch in Cieplewo. The morphological studies suggest the good state and health of seedling from both sites; however, the reduction of root hair surface was observed for the roadside ditch seedlings. The anatomical studies present changes in the size of the nucleus and count of chloroplasts in LF. No reaction on HM contamination sediments in the seedlings from the roadside ditch in Cieplewo in the aerenchyma was noted. Potentially, both types of seedlings can be used to decontaminate environments rich in HM. However, the level of HM absorbed by seedlings (in the first stage of growth) should be considered due to the behavior in the target phytoremediation site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, we investigated the concentration of Ni and Pb in different organs of Phragmites australis to evaluate its potential application as a phytoremediator to remove these two metals from contaminated water and sediment in Lake Burullus (a Ramsar site in Egypt). Above- and below-ground biomass of P. australis, water and sediment were sampled monthly for 1 year at six sites of Lake Burullus (three sites represent each of the northern and southern parts of the lake) using six randomly distributed quadrats (each of 0.5 × 0.5 m) at each sampling site. Significant variation was detected for Ni and Pb concentrations in the sediments and waters between the northern and southern sites of the lake. The biomass of P. australis in the southern sites was greater than that in the northern sites; in addition, the above-ground biomass was higher than the below-ground biomass. The above-ground organs accumulated higher concentrations of Ni and Pb than the below-ground organs. The Ni and Pb standing stocks data indicated that the organs of P. australis extracted higher amounts of Ni and Pb per its area from the southern rather than the northern sites. In the current study, the Ni and Pb above-ground standing stocks increased from the early growing season (February) and reached its peak during August and then decreased. The highest monthly Ni and Pb standing stock (18.2 and 18.4 g m− 2, respectively) was recorded in the above-ground organs of plants in the southern sites in August. The bioaccumulation factor of Ni was 157.6 and 153.4 in the northern and southern sites, respectively, whereas that of Pb was 175.3 and 158.3. The translocation factor of Ni and Pb from the below- to above-ground organs was generally > 1. Thus, this reed species is a potential candidate for Ni and Pb phytoextraction. Based on our results, P. australis could be used for the extraction of Ni and Pb to reduce the pollution in Lake Burullus, if the above-ground biomass is harvested at its maximum value in August, as was the case regarding the maximum standing stock of Ni and Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aras River is the main source of drinking water supply in northwestern provinces of Iran. The present study aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the river on the border between Iran and Armenia. Methods: Three samples were taken from the Aras river water, the river bottom sediments and the root of Phragmites australis. In water sampling, the concentration of Hg, Mo, Cu, C o, B, Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Al, Mn, Cr, and Fe was noticed while in sediment sampling, to measure the concentration of Cu and Mo. In samples taken from the plant root, the concentration of Cu was only analyzed. The water sampling was performed at 11 stations along the river course during four seasons fall, winter, spring and summer 2011. Results: The highest and lowest concentrations respectively belonged to Al (2600 ppb) and Cd (0.4 ppb). Parameters including B, Cu, Mo and Al were all higher than the standard limits. The results obtained from sediment and root sampling indicated that the concentration of Cu exceeds the standard. Conclusion: Poor quality of Aras River reveals to the necessity of implementing mitigation measures to improve the water quality of the river.

In this study, the bioaccumulation of some metals by Phragmites australis plants exposed to poultry slaughterhouse wastewater was investigated. For this aim, Mo, As, Cd, Se, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ba, Ti, Fe, Al, and Mn metals were determined in slaughterhouse wastewaters, P. australis plants, and sediment samples. The uptake of metals by P. australis was investigated. Also, BCF and TF values were calculated and compared with reference plant values. The maximum metal accumulation in P. australis plants exposed to poultry slaughterhouse wastewaters was 5900% for Al and 33.5% for Mn when compared with reference plant values. According to the BCF values, P. australis was bioaccumulative for Mo, Se, and Al. As a result, it was determined that P. australis plant can be used in the remediation of metals found in poultry slaughterhouse wastewaters and would be a good accumulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Heavy metals that enter organisms can cause illness and disease. Chelation therapy is a solution that uses chelating agents to protect these organisms by high accumulation. Materials and methods: The objective of this study is to evaluate the capability of different roots extracts from reed or EDTA (as standard) to complexate iron using, ferrozine-ferrous reducing assay or Zn and Cu using the murexide-Zn or Cu reducing assay in vitro. Results: the results proved that the organic phase of the first extract and EDTA (standard chelator), have the strongest chelation activities with respective rates of 70% and 97% for iron, 55% and 56% for zinc and 47% and 88% for copper compared to the control groups considered to be 100% of the complexation. Finally, the HPLC analysis showed the presence of six organic acids, which areprobably responsible for this effect. Conclusion: The hexane extract and EDTA (standard), have the strongest chelation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progressive pollution due to toxic metals significantly undermines global environmental sustainability efforts. Chromium (Cr) is one of the most dangerous to human health. The use of plants to rid the environment of such pollutants "phytoremediation" proves to be a promising alternative to the current remediation methods. In the present study, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) determined Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb) concentrations in the soil, and plants (Atriplex leucoclada , Calotropis procera , Salsola imbricata , Typha augustifolia , and Phragmites australis) root and shoots. Results showed that compared to other studied metals, Cr concentration was the highest in the soil at 111.8 mg/kg, whereas Cd records the least concentration of 0.04 mg/kg. Cr also accumulated in higher concentration in C. procera than in the soil and other plants, with up to 188.2 and 68.2 mg/kg concentration in the root and shoot, respectively. In order to understand the mechanism of Cr tolerance and uptake in C. procera , germinated seeds were irrigated with 20 mg/kg Cr and control treatment (no Cr applied) for six (6) weeks under greenhouse conditions. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed high Cr complexation and binding to C. procera tissues via hydroxyl and carboxylic groups. Enzymatic assay reveals increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) in Cr treated C. procera than in the control. SOD activity increased by up to six (6) folds. Therefore, we conclude that C. procera is suitable for the phytoremediation of Cr polluted arid soil. Additionally, regulation of cellular homeostasis via redox signaling is essential to the Cr tolerance and detoxification mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study estimated the ability of four aquatic macrophytes (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Ludwigia stolonifera (Guill. & Perr.) P.H. Raven, Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv. and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.) to accumulate Cd, Ni and Pb and their use for indicating and phytoremediating these metals in contaminated wetlands. Three sites at five locations in the Kitchener Drain in Gharbia and Kafr El-Sheikh Governorates (Egypt) were selected for plant, water and sediment sampling. The water in the Kitchener Drain was polluted with Cd, while Pb and Ni were far below the maximum level of Pb and Ni in the irrigation water. In comparison to the other species, P. australis accumulated the highest concentrations of Cd and Ni, while E. crassipes accumulated the highest concentration of Pb in its tissues. The four species had bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) greater than one, while their translocation factors (TFs) were less than 1 for most heavy metals, except Cd in the leaf and stem of E. stagnina and L. stolonifera, respectively, and Ni in the stem and leaf of E. stagnina. The BAF and TF results indicated that the studied species are suitable for phytostabilizing the studied heavy metals, except Ni in E. stagnina and Cd in L. stolonifera, which are suitable for phytoextracting these metals. Significant positive correlations were found between the investigated heavy metals in the water or sediment and the plant tissues. Their high BAFs, with significant proportional correlations, supported the potential of these species to serve as bioindicators and biomonitors of heavy metals in general and in the investigated metals specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surrounding area of the Roxo stream sub-basin (basin of the Sado River, Portugal) has completely sterile sections, jeopardizing the productivity of the agricultural activities practiced there. This may be due to the inflow of the Água Forte stream, which has characteristics of Acid Mining Drainage (AMD). The objective of this study was to test the efficiency of heavy metal removal from the Água Forte stream using the macrophyte floating bed technology (Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis) in a pilot plant, monitoring and evaluating the water quality and performance of macrophytes. Two experiments were carried out in 2019 over 6 months (January to June). Both experiments were performed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tanks with the nominal capacity of 1 m3 each. The tanks were filled with about 0.8 m3 of water coming from the Água Forte stream, which was renewed monthly. The floating beds consisted in a high-density polyethylene floating system and an organic plant support mat filled with a plant density of 285 plants m-2. The heavy metal removal rates obtained from the Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis floating bed were Fe = 40%; Zn = 33%; Cu = 23%; Mn = 14% and Fe = 27%; Zn = 19%; Mn = 17%; Cu = 14%; respectively. The order of heavy metals accumulation in Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis in plant biomass was Fe> Zn> Cu> Mn and Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu, respectively. The growth of Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis in leaf biomass was 7.1 ± 0.3 cm/month and 2.5 ± 0.0 cm/month and in root biomass 3.8 ± 0.1 cm/month and 4.1 ± 0.1 cm/month, respectively. The growth of macrophytes showed the ability to survive in the AMD-containing waters without severe damage in their external and anatomical morphology, although their growth suffered inhibition. The results suggest that the floating bed technology may be an environmentally sustainable alternative, allowing long-term heavy metal removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal-polluted wetlands could be remediated by harvesting metal accumulating plants, i.e., using phytoextraction. We studied a macrophyte Phragmites australis and assessed its potential to be utilized in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-polluted wetlands, specifically in wadis in the Arabian Peninsula. We sampled six polluted wadi sites and measured Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the roots, rhizomes, stems, and leaves of P. australis, as well as in sediment and water. We analyzed the correlations between different plant organs, water, and sediment, and calculated the accumulation and translocation of the metals to the plant organs. We found indications for the accumulation of Cd, Zn, and Pb into P. australis and somewhat contradictory indications for the accumulation of Cu. We suggest that P. australis is a good candidate to be utilized in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-polluted wadis in the Arabian Peninsula where the few wadis offer many valuable ecosystem services for urban citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remained litter mass, and the contents of As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the litters of Phragmites australis and Suaeda salsa under different flooding conditions in the Yellow River Delta were determined to investigate the litter decomposition rates and heavy metal return characteristics. Results showed that the decomposition of S. salsa litters was significantly faster than that of P. australis litters (P<0.05), and the decomposition under tidal flooding conditions was faster than that under the short- term flooding conditions. In terms of P. australis litters, their contents of As, Cr and Cu were higher compared to the initials, and these heavy metals contents of P. australis litters under tidal flooding conditions were higher than those under short-term flooding conditions. For S. salsa litters, all heavy metals exhibited an increase in the study, and the contents of As, Cu and Pb under tidal flooding conditions were significantly higher than those under the short-term flooding conditions (P<0.05). Pb and Zn were released during the decomposition for both P. australis and S. salsa litters. The findings of this study contributed to further studies on the influences of the tidal waves on the litter decomposition and metal returns in the Yellow River Delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rhizofiltration system planted with Phragmites australis L. and Kyllinga nemoralis L. was constructed at a wastewater treatment plant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and evaluated for its efficiency in removing heavy metals and enteric pathogens from municipal wastewater. The rhizofiltration system that was kept unplanted acted as the reference section. Influent, effluent, plant tissue and sediment from the system were sampled bi-monthly for a period of six months and assessed for physicochemical parameters, removal of Escherichia coli, faecal coliforms and trace heavy metals. The biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values reduced as compared with the influent sample. Suspended solids, turbidity and alkalinity were reduced in the planted and reference sections. Considering the entire rhizofilter, heavy metals were accumulated at varying concentrations in the planted and reference section of the rhizofilter. Planted section showed a greater potential to remove heavy metals from wastewater than the reference section. The entire rhizofiltration system was found to have an average pathogen removal ratio between 45% and 98% for the various pathogens detected in the influent wastewater. Ascaris lumbricoides was reduced by 77% in the planted section and 53% in the reference section. The results obtained from this study suggest that macrophytes have the potential to remove heavy metals and pathogens from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to compare the effect of citric acid (CA) on metal uptake in Phragmites australis cultured in artificial acid mine drainage (AMD) contaminated soil or aqueous solutions. When the chelator CA was present, it appeared to reduce metal plaque (i.e. Mn and Fe) formation around the roots systems of reeds; while simultaneously increasing the metal accumulation in both belowground and aboveground tissues of reeds cultured in AMD contaminated soil or solutions. Compared to soils, the effect of CA to decrease Mn and Fe plaque and enhance Mn and Fe uptake in solutions was more pronounced. In general, the more CA that was added, the more Mn and Fe accumulated in the reeds, especially the underground tissues of reeds. However, the effects of CA on Al accumulation in reeds grown in AMD soil and solutions were different. CA decreased Al plaque formation and increased Al uptake in reeds cultured in AMD contaminated soil but had no influence on Al levels in reeds grown in AMD solutions. CA could be effective at enhancing the phytoremediation of metals from AMD contaminated sites, depending on the metal levels, types of metals and the characteristics of contaminated media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of heavy metals resulting from steel factories and their impact on contents pigments in five plant species (Olea europaea L., Eucalyptus amygdalina, Nerium oleander L., Dodonaea viscosa, and Phragmites australis) in the city of Erbil. Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, As, Pb, Co, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and total protein were determined in leaves of plants away from the factory used as control (unpolluted site), and plants grown in the garden inside the steel factory (polluted site). The results revealed the significant higher accumulation of all heavy metals in all polluted plants in comparison with unpolluted plants. Higher concentrations of Fe, Zn, As, Pb and Co were recorded in leaves of Dodonaea viscosa, while Olea europaea L. found an accumulation of more concentration of Cu and Ni. The level of Mn is significantly higher in the leaves of Eucalyptus amygdalina when compared with other plants. Plants grown on contaminated sites showed the lower concentration of pigments and protein contents. A negative correlation was found between the concentration of heavy metals, pigments and total protein contents in all plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antagonistic interactions between microorganisms in the environment seem to play a key role in determining the spatial structuring of bacterial communities. In this work, the antagonistic interactions among 82 strains belonging to different Pseudomonas species isolated from six different environmental niches have been investigated to check whether it might be related to the environmental niches and/or to the taxonomical affiliation. The bacterial panel included 20 strains from Echinacea purpurea (12 from roots, 8 from the rhizosphere), 19 from Phragmites australis, 20 from the Acquarossa river (13 and 7 from red and black epilithon, respectively), 9 strains from red epilithon of the "Infernaccio waterfalls", 5 Antarctic strains, and 9 strains from the Amazon rainforest. Data obtained revealed that 81 out of the 82 strains exhibited an antagonistic activity (even though at a different extent) and that the environmental characteristics, which also determine different adaptative strategies, might be the main factor affecting antagonism among bacteria, even more than taxonomy. Strains isolated from heavy metal enriched river biofilms were described as the most active, while endophytic and rhizospheric strains were the most sensitive. This research, representing the first report in which Pseudomonas bacterial strains isolated from different ecological niches have been tested for their interaction abilities, opens new perspectives in discovering putative new antimicrobial compounds from different (extreme) environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]