Abstract:
This study focused on the ability of Lemna
minor and Lemna gibba to remove U and Th in the tailing
water of Keban, Turkey. These plants were placed in tailing
water and individually fed to the reactors designed for
these plants. Water and plant samples were collected daily
from the mining area. The plants were ashed at 300°C
for 1 day and analyzed by ICP-MS for U and Th. U was
accumulated as a function of time by these plants, and
performances between 110 % and 483 % for L. gibba, and
between 218 % and 1194 % for L. minor, were shown. The
highest Th accumulations in L. minor and L. gibba were
observed at 300 % and 600 % performances, respectively,
on the second day of the experiment. This study indicated
that both L. gibba and L. minor demonstrated a high ability
to remove U and Th from tailing water polluted by trace
elements.
