Abstract:
This study investigated the use of Lemna gibba and Lemna minor plant species to
absorb Cr, Ni and Co from Alacakaya mining area water. Lemna gibba and L. minor
were separately placed to feed into two reactors. Water and plant samples were
collected for eight consecutive days, and the pH, electric conductivity and temperature
of the water were measured. The plants were washed, dried and burned at
3008C for 24 h in a drying oven. The samples were then analysed by ICP-MS (inductively
coupled plasma mass spectroscopy) for concentrations of Cr, Ni and Co,
which were 1.2, 0.9 and 0.5 lg L21 respectively. On Day 8, the determined uptake
of L. gibba and L. minor were: 196 and 398% for Cr; 307 and 1473% for Ni; and 166
and 223% for Co respectively. Lemna gibba and L. minor were thus effective in
absorbing Cr, Ni and Co from mining water.
