Possibilities and limitations of using Lemna minor, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Ceratophyllum demersum in removing metals with contaminated water

Abstract

The paper presents the assessment of possibilities and limitations of the use of Lemna minor, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Ceratophyllum demersum in removing metals from contaminated waters. Synthetically discussed the role of these species in phytotechnology and their importance in the assessment of surface water status. The variability of concentration of selected metals in waters and the content of metals in the organs of the analysed plants are presented. Their advantages and disadvantages in removing metals from waters due to biological features have been characterized. Minimum and maximum efficiency of metal removal depending on the scale of water pollution was determined. It was found that analysed plants can be used for phytoremediation of metals from water, but the limitation of effectiveness of treatments is the toxicity of these metals to plants and the time of exposure. The highest removal efficiency can be obtained thanks to the use of sequences of single-species filtration systems.