Biomass of the macrophyte remedies and detoxifies Cd(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous solution

Aquatic plants are considered to be important remedial agents in aquatic environments contaminated by metals. The Salvinia biloba macrophyte was evaluated in relation to its removal kinetics, adsorption capacity, and toxicology, aiming at its application in the removal of Cd⁺² and Pb⁺² ions from aqueous solutions. A batch-type system was used, in which the plants were cultivated in microcosms containing nutritive solution and metallic ions, stored in a controlled environment (pH, temperature, and luminosity). The removal kinetics consisted in the analysis of efficiency, varying the concentrations of the metals, and time of cultivation of plants in solution. To describe the process, adsorption isotherms were constructed with the equilibrium data, which were later adjusted to Langmuir and Freundlich models. The toxicological trial was performed by sub-acute exposure test of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode to phytoremediated solutions. The results highlight the remedial effect of the plant in solutions contaminated with both metals. The kinetic study demonstrated that the plant responds differently to metals, and physical-chemical and biological processes can be attributed to the removal of metals from the solution by the plant. The equilibrium time obtained was 48 h for both metals, and the adsorption capacity was higher for Cd²⁺. The toxicological evaluation indicates that there was a reduction in toxicity after the remediation of the solutions by S. biloba, for all times and concentrations evaluated. Salvinia biloba was efficient for the removal of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ metals from aqueous solution. The plant is a low-cost metal biosorbent and can be considered promising for phytoremediation strategies in liquid effluents and water bodies.