Treatment of radioactive and industrial liquid wastes by Eichornia crassipes

Chemical factors such as pH, concentration and temperature affecting the removal of UO₂²⁺, Th⁴⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺,Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, MnO₄^- and phenol by Eichornia crassipes aquatic plant from their solutions were examined. Maximum uptake of ions by Eichornia crassipes occurred at pH 4 to 6±0.5 at 25±3 °C. An initial rapid uptake phase for the first 6 hours followed by a slower near linear one was observed. One gram of Eichornia crassipes can accumulate about 25 mg UO₂²⁺, 5 mg Th⁴⁺, 30 mg Fe³⁺, 10 mg MnO₄^-, 15 mg Cu²⁺, 1.0 mg Pb²⁺, 1.5 mg Ni²⁺, 0.7 mg Cd²⁺ and or 25 mg of phenol.