Experimental Water Purification by Plant-Purification of the Polluted Water with Heavy Metals

Water pollution with heavy metals is one of the most serious
environmental problems. The aim of the studies are to examine the
function of plants to absorb heavy metals. Two species of plants were
used for the experiments with polluted water. One is Athyrium
yokoscense of the fern species which is able to absorb heavy metals,
the other is Eichhornia crassipes which is generally used forwater
purification of eutrophic lakes and ponds. The cross section of each
plant's petiole and root was examined with optical microscope and
scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray
analyzer. It was found that heavy metals of Zn and Pb were
accumulated by these plants. The results suggest that it is possible
to purify polluted water by using the function of plants absorption
for heavy metals.