The potential of Zea mays, Commelina bengelensis, Helianthus annuusand Amaranthus hybridus for phytoremediation of waste water

Abstract

Waste-water from domestic use and from industrial effluent burden the water systems with high levels of heavy metal hence there is need to remove these heavy metals so that the waste water can be recycled for use for household or irrigation. The present st udy has screened Zea mays (maize), Commelina bengelensis (wondering jew), Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Amaranthus hybridus (amaranthus) for their ability to bioaccumulate Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn metals. The results obtained show that the H. annuus and C. bengelensis plant have promising potential for removal of Pb, Cu and Cd from wastewater though their ability to remove Zn from contaminated solutions is not much different from that of Z. mays and A.hybridus.