Removal of Arsenic with the Process of Phytoremediationusing Pteris vittata Ferns

摘要

This paper focuses on determining an efficient and simple method to removearsenic from water. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in theearth's crust. Arsenic is very toxic when found in large quantities of drinking water. Incountries around the world, particularly Bangladesh, arsenic contaminates thegroundwater supply. Also, with the United States current restriction increase on arsenicin drinking water, reducing from 50 ppb to 10 ppb, many small water treatment facilitiesare now over the current drinking water standard. There is a dire need to develop costeffective treatment technology for arsenic removal. This project proposes to investigatethe removal of arsenic from water by using the Pteris Vittata fern in a phytoremediationprocess.The phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated water is being tested using PterisVittata ferns. Small Pteris Vittata ferns were purchased and placed into five aeroponicgrowth systems. The growth systems each have varying concentrations and species ofarsenic (arsenite and arsenate) in the water, and the systems are allowed to runcontinuously for 6-weeks. At one week intervals samples are taken from the systems andtested for arsenic concentrations using an Induced Coupled Plasma. After 6-weeks all ofthe systems experienced positive removal. Arsenic removal can be experienced after justone week. Total removals at the end of the 6-week period can be as high at 68%.