Regresar

Evaluation of the efficacy of Heliconia psittacorum (heliconiaceae) cultivated hydroponically for phytoremediation of water with chromium (VI) presence

Abstract:

The present study aims to ascertain the effectiveness of Heliconia psittacorum (heliconiaceae) as a potential phytoremediator of chromium (VI) in hydroponic crops. Irrigation water from the reservoir of the Faculty of Natural Resources of the Polytechnic School of Chimborazo was contaminated with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in order to obtain the following concentrations of Cr6+: 10 mg.L-1, 20 mg.L-1 and 30 mg.L-1 designating them as treatments A, B and C respectively, by means of a Completely Random Design (DCA) with three replicas. To achieve the objective, a greenhouse of 35 m2 was designed and built in the vicinity of the Faculty of Natural Resources as well as the system for hydroponic cultivation, the samples were characterized, and the variables of temperature and relative humidity control were recorded. To provide an optimal growth environment for plant species, permanent aeration was provided to the hydroponic crops and nutrient solution. The efficacy of the removal of Cr6+ in 60 days was 20.83% in treatment A, 11.58% in treatment B and 3.69% in treatment C. The plant has a high translocation capacity of heavy metals to the aerial part and a limited capacity of bioconcentration in the root reason why it is concluded that it is exclusive of heavy metals.