Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Phytoremediation Potential Of Corchorus Olitorius Linn. On Soil Polluted With Brewery Effluent.
by B.O. Odiyi, S.E. Abiya and T.G. Adegbite

Abstract:
Industrial waste water is one of the important pollution sources in the pollution of the water environment. Phytoremediation methods are comparatively cheap and ecologically advantageous compared to other common technological approaches. Heavy metals toxicity above the normal threshold constitutes a threat to humanity and biodiversity. Phytoremediation has become an emerging technology of cleaning polluted sites through the use of plants. A study was carried out in the screen house located besides the Academic building of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria (N 07O 18�06.1��E 005o07�58.1��) to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of Corchorus olitorius on a brewery effluent. The parameters investigated were the chlorophyll content, the concentration of the metals in the plants, Bio concentration Factor (BCF) and the Translocation Factor (TF). Three different concentrations of brewery effluent were used at 50, 100 and 150 ml/5kg of soil respectively. The results of this study under controlled conditions indicated that effluent application increased chlorophyll content, reduced number of leaves and stem girth. Three heavy metals (iron, cadmium, and chromium) were detected in the shoots and leaf of the plants. The translocation factor (less than 1) and bioaccumulation factors (greater than 1) were below the permissible limits hence indicating a possible bio-accumulator for the heavy metals investigated.Brewery effluent increase the leaf area of Corchorus olitoriusunder high concentrations which possibly suggest an adaptive mechanism developed by the plant under stress.

Keywords: Corchorus Olitorius, Effluent, Toxicity, Translocation Factor, Phytoremediation,

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