Bioremediation Potential of Brassica juncea against Tannery Effluent
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Date
2010
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Abstract
Heavy metal contamination-caused by natural processes or by human activity is one_of the serious
;:;f^^otoxicological problems. Phytoremediation is an emerging plant based technology for the removal o f
toxic contaminants from the soil and water. It is relatively invasive and provides a low-cost remedial option
t suited loo many sites. The present study isJbcused to remediate heavy metal contamination from tannery
^ effluents using the plant Brassica juncea. The leather tanning effluent was found to have high pH indicating ~
alkalinity o f the sample^ilh a l ^ e .araoimt o f suspended solids dissolved salts ofisodium, potassium,
^ . chromium, zinc, cadmium and copper. Brassica Juncea was grovm as a control plant using pure water used
in the tanning industry and also using three different dilutions of the tannery effluent (25 %, 50 % and 100 %
concentrations o f the effluent). The biometric and biochemical observations of the plants were recorded on
30* and 60* days after sowing. Undiluted effluent did not favour the growth o f the plants and the few
geiminated plants died soon. The plants treated with diluted effluents were found to have lower pigments, _
, protein, DNA and.RNA in the leaves as compared to the control plants. The 25 % concentration was found to
be better for plants than 50% concentration of the effluent (Keywords: phytoremediation, Brassicajuncea,
bioremediation).