Floating Treatment Wetlands for Zinc Phytoremediation
Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Major
Environmental Engineersing
Research Advisor
Fitch, Mark
Advisor's Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Second Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
OURE
Abstract
Stormwater pollution from urban and mining areas can pose challenges to downstream waters because of zinc contamination. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) have demonstrated the ability to mitigate nutrient and metal contamination. To investigate the effectiveness of native Missouri plants in FTWs, fourteen 10-liter mesocosms were constructed, dosed with nutrients, and placed in a greenhouse. Four mesocosms acted as controls, five contained pickerelweed, and five contained palm sedge. After one week of acclimation, mesocosms were dosed with ZnCl2 in concentrations of 0, 5, and 10 mg/L of zinc. Objectives of this study include characterizing zinc immobilization and assessing both pickerelweed and palm sedge within FTWs for zinc uptake. Grab samples were taken immediately after dosing, one hour, one day, three days, and weekly for six weeks. Data collected in week one shows zinc concentrations decreasing immediately after dosage and mixing, pointing to possible adsorption to precipitating iron from the nutrient solution. In week two, mesocosms containing plants demonstrated an increase in soluble zinc, followed by a steady decrease through week six. This may be a result of the complexing of zinc with root exudates, which increase the solubility of zinc for plant uptake. To confirm such zinc uptake, investigation of zinc within roots and shoots is necessary in future research.
Biography
Grace Duong is a graduating senior in Environmental Engineering at Missouri S& T with plans to pursue graduate studies, beginning a Ph.D. program at Washington University in Fall 2024. Her academic interests span emerging contaminants, nutrient and bioproduct recovery, remediation, and environmental justice. Beyond her studies, she enjoys rock climbing, playing the guitar, and spending time with her cat, Smokey.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Havener Center - Carver Room
Presentation Date
10 April 2024, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Floating Treatment Wetlands for Zinc Phytoremediation
Havener Center - Carver Room
Stormwater pollution from urban and mining areas can pose challenges to downstream waters because of zinc contamination. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) have demonstrated the ability to mitigate nutrient and metal contamination. To investigate the effectiveness of native Missouri plants in FTWs, fourteen 10-liter mesocosms were constructed, dosed with nutrients, and placed in a greenhouse. Four mesocosms acted as controls, five contained pickerelweed, and five contained palm sedge. After one week of acclimation, mesocosms were dosed with ZnCl2 in concentrations of 0, 5, and 10 mg/L of zinc. Objectives of this study include characterizing zinc immobilization and assessing both pickerelweed and palm sedge within FTWs for zinc uptake. Grab samples were taken immediately after dosing, one hour, one day, three days, and weekly for six weeks. Data collected in week one shows zinc concentrations decreasing immediately after dosage and mixing, pointing to possible adsorption to precipitating iron from the nutrient solution. In week two, mesocosms containing plants demonstrated an increase in soluble zinc, followed by a steady decrease through week six. This may be a result of the complexing of zinc with root exudates, which increase the solubility of zinc for plant uptake. To confirm such zinc uptake, investigation of zinc within roots and shoots is necessary in future research.
