Screening of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose of Phytoremediation of Lead in Enyigba Lead Mine Derelict, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT)
e-ISSN: 2319-2402,p- ISSN: 2319-2399.Volume 10, Issue 6 Ver. III (Jun. 2016), PP 08-11
www.iosrjournals.org
Screening Of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose Of

Phytoremediation Of Lead In Enyigba Lead Mine Derelict,
Ebonyi State, Nigeria
OTI, WILBERFORCE J. O.
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ebonyi State University, Private Mail Bag 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State,
Nigeria.
Abstract: Samples of Phyllanthus Muellerianus were collected from Enyigba mines in Ebonyi State alongside
the soil samples. Different concentration in mg/kg of Zn, Pb, As, Cd, Ni and Cr were determined using Atomic
Absorption Spectrophotometer (ASS) technique. The result showed the mean concentration of heavy metals to be
Zn (11.40 mg/kg), As (2.40 mg/kg), Cd (0.30 mg/kg), Cr (1.93 mg/kg), Ni (14.88 mg/kg) and Pb (2.60 mg/kg).
The concentration of the heavy metals in the soil were found to be in the order top soil > mid soil > sub soil
which showed that the origin of the metal is anthropogenic in nature. The mean pH of the soil was 6.68 while
the organic matter was 1.48 which hiders the availability of Pb in the soil. Translocation factor (TF > 1) was
observed for Cd and Pb and Bioaccumulation factor (BAF > 1) was observed for Pb. This shows that this weed
could be used as phytoremediation agent in lead and cadmium polluted environment.
Keywords: Phyllanthus Muellerianus, Enyigba mines, Phytoremediation and Lead.
I.
Introduction
The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is
toxic or poisonous at high concentrations. Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr),
thallium (Ti) and lead (Pb) are present in the earth crust for centuries and they cannot be degraded nor
destroyed rather they move round in cycle and back to earth crust again. Some heavy metals are essential to
maintain the human body metabolisms but in trace quantity (John, 2002). Heavy metals can get into the human
body by exposure of industrial and consumer waste or even from acidic rain. Certain metals such as Cu, Zn, Ni
are essential trace metals for majority of plants as they are contained in many plants enzymes. Some metal
toxicity can be reduced by the uptake of certain plants to some extent. However low level of toxic metals such
as Cd, Cr and Hg can affect human health regardless whether they are present in substance people ingest or in
materials people get in contact with (Hogan, 2010). The effects of metallic pollutants depends on many factors
such as environmental condition, pH of metal, organic substances, fertilizer etc. The uptake of some metals by
plants could show its usefulness in phytoremediation due to its high translocation and bioaccumulation factors
(Yanqun et al., 2005). Plants are known to have unlimited uses ranging from food, decoration, shelter, fuel,
clothing and medicines. Plants that grow in unwanted areas are referred to as weeds and at times, they may be
benefical. Weed is a plant that is not desired within a certain context. The term weed is a subjective one, without
any classification value, since a plant that is a weed in one context is not a weed when growing where it belongs
or is wanted (Janick, 1979). Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family phyllanthaceae
numbering from 750 to 1200. The aim of this work therefore is to determine the concentration of heavy metals
in phyllanthus muellerianu collected from Enyigba lead and zinc mines and to compare the values in the plant
and leaves and also to compare the values of these plant and soil.
II.
Materials and Method
Study Area
This research work was carried out in Enyigba in Ebonyi state. The study area, Abakaliki, is in the mid
of the South Eastern, Nigeria (latitudes 420' and 700'N and longitudes 525' and 935'). The Enyigba lead
zinc mine is located about 14 Km South of Abakaliki with sparse rural population of mainly farmers. The
prevailing climate conditions are high rainfall, high temperatures, high atmospheric humidity and
precipitation usually exceeding evapotranspiration for more than half the year.
Sample collection
Fresh plant and soil samples were collected from lead and zinc deposited mine Enyigba, Ebonyi State
on the 15th of November, 2014. The samples were kept in polythene bag (black) to avoid rapid dehydration
while kept the soil samples were stored in samples containers and labelled; top soil (0-30), mid soil (30-60) and
deep sub soil (60-90).
DOI: 10.9790/2402-1006030811
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Screening Of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose Of Phytoremediation Of Lead In....

Soil Pre-treatment and Analysis
After drying, the samples was finely grounded using a plastic pestle and mortar and was sieved until
the finest particles were obtained. 0.5g of the sieved samples was weighed using a weighing balance into a
250ml. 2.0ml of aqua regia (HNO3 + 3HCl) and 5.0ml of perchloric acid (HClO4) was added. After digestion of
the samples, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (VGP210 Bulk Scientific model) was used to analyze for Zn, As,
Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb. In addition, from the soil samples, the pH, percentage of Organic Matter and percentages of
sand, silt, and clay were also determined using Orion 920A pH meter; Walkley & Black method and
Hydrometer method respectively.
Plant Pre-treatment and Analysis
The plant samples were immediately taken to the department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State
University, Abakaliki for proper identification and labelling. The roots, stems and leaves samples were washed
carefully with distilled water to remove all soils, dusts and unwanted particles on the surface of the samples,
while the soil samples were spread on a clean plastic tray and air dry until no trace of water was found in it to
avoid interference during analysis. 1.0g of the powdered sample was weighed into a conical and 10 cm3 of the
digestion mixture (a mixture of sulphuric acid, perchloric acid and nitric acid in ratio 1:4:40 by volume) was
added and left to stand overnight. The content was first heated at 70 C for 40 minutes and then the heat was
increased to 120 C until the colour of the mixture became clear with appearance of white fumes which shows
the completion of digestion process (Audu and Lawal, 2005). The digest was diluted with 10 cm 3 of water and
boiled for 15 minutes, cooled and transferred into 50 cm3 volumetric flasks. The sample solution was then
filtered through a filter paper into a screw capped polyethylene bottle and stored for heavy metal determination
using Absorption Spectroscopy (VGP210 Bulk Scientific model). Stock standard solutions of Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Ni
and Pb containing 1000ppm of each metal were prepared by dissolving weighed amounts of suitable anhydrous
analytical grade salts in distilled water.
Statistical analysis
Each analysis was done in triplicates to ensure reproducibility and minimize error. Data were expressed
as means with standard deviation and were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Least
Significant Difference (LSD) multiple range test (P0.05) was used to evaluate differences between means of
treatments and plant species.
III.
Results And Discussion
Tables 1 shows the concentration of heavy metals in the top soil, mid soil and sub soil and in the roots,
leaves and stems of phyllanthus muellerianus. Table 2 shows the soil properties of Enyigba lead mine derelict
while Tables 4 and 5 show the Translocation and Bioaccumulation factors of heavy metals in phyllanthus
muellerianus
Table 1: The Concentration of Heavy Metals in Soil and Plant Samples
Metals
Top Soil
Mid Soil
Sub Soil
Roots
Stems
Leaves
Zn
56.02 6.22
34.12 2.00
12.44 1.28
10.12 1.20
8.05 0.88
6.11 0.52
As
3.21 0.22
2.01 0.21
1.98 0.20
1.80 0.16
1.50 0.12
0.50 0.08
Parameter Conc. (mg/kg)

Cd
Cr
0.48 1.02
2.00 0.81
0.48 1.02
2.00 0.81
0.31 1.00
1.80 0.40
0.30 0.90
1.56 0.31
0.32 0.71
1.31 0.11
0.32 0.82
1.31 0.11
Ni
16.20 1.41
16.12 1.40
12. 32 1.20
6.89 0.54
6.38 0.48
6.38 0.48
Pb
2.60 0.82
2.60 0.82
2.62 0.84
2.60 0.18
2.64 0.08
1.80 0.22
Table 2: Soil Properties

Properties
Sand (%)
Silt (%)
Clay (%)
Organic Matter (%)
pH
(n = 3)
60.22 5.2
8.02 0.7
34.60 4.1
1.48 0.6
6.68 0.6
Table 3: Translocation Factors of heavy metals in phyllanthus muellerianus

Metals
Roots
Stems
TF = Cstem / Croot
DOI: 10.9790/2402-1006030811
Zn
10.12
8.05
0.79
As
1.80
1.50
0.83
Cd
0.30
0.32
1.07
Cr
1.56
1.31
0.84
Ni
6.89
6.38
0.93
Pb
2.62
2.64
1.01
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Table 4: Bioaccumulation Factors (BAF) of Heavy Metals in Phyllanthus Muellerianus
Bioaccumulation Factors
Metals
Zn
As
Cd
Cr
Ni
Pb
Mean Soil Concentration
11.40
2.40
0.42
1.93
14.88
2.60
Roots Concentrations
BAF = Croot / Csoil
10.12
0.88
1.80
0.75
0.30
0.71
1.56
0.89
6.89
0.46
2.62
1.01
IV.
Discussion
Table 1 showed that the concentration of the heavy metals in the soil were found to be in the order top
soil > mid soil > sub soil. Higher concentration of metals in top soil than in the mid or sub soil shows that the
source of the metals in the environment is from anthropogenic origin.
Table 2 shows the soil characteristics by their organic matter, sand, silt and clay contents. The
percentage of organic matter content is 1.48 % in Enyigba mine. The extent of soil pollution with heavy metals
and subsequent uptake by crops depend on organic matter content among other factors. Usually, organic matter
content increases with decrease in pH and an increase in metal concentrations (Adhikari et al., 2004). The
organic matter content serves as complexing agent for heavy metals (Brady and Wiel, 1999). Some metals such
as Pb have low solubility at pH range of 5.5 7.5 which is normal for most mineral soils. Soils with pH around
6.68 have lesser availability of heavy metals such as Pb, Cu, Mn and Zn because they are less soluble at about
this pH (Assuncao, 2003). Organic matter and pH values have been reported to independently and associatively
influence the concentrations of heavy metals in soils (Nweke et al., 2008). Hence for phytoremediation to take
place, soil amendment must be conducted using chemicals that will make these metals available.
From Table 3, bioaccumulation factor (BAF) greater than one was observed for Pb in phyllanthus
muellerianus. For a plant to be an efficient phytoremediation tool in the contaminated soil, the BAF have to be
higher than one (Brown et al., 1994). This means that phyllanthus muellerianus can be used as a good
phytoremediation agent. Most researchers believe that plants for phytoremediation should accumulate more
metals in the roots than in the shoot (Salt et al., 1998). This is due to the mobilization of the protective
mechanisms of plants, which inhibits the transport to further tissues and organs (Nwoko and Egunobi, 2002).
Some authors, all the same, have reported higher cadmium content in shoot than in roots of the studied plants
(Roosens et al., 2003)
From Table 4, translocation factor (TF) of Cd and Pb are greater than one which suggest that
phyllanthus muellerianus has the ability to absorb and contain Cd and Pb. Translocation factors is an index that
shows the ability of a metal to move from one part of the plant to another and is often employed for plants roots
and stems (Yanqun et al., 2005). TF >1 suggests that Cd could be effectively translocated from the roots to the
shoots. A key trait of metal hyperaccumulators is the efficient metal transport from roots to shoots, characterized
by the TF being greater than one (Zhao et al., 2006). Since the result showed TF >1, therefore, phyllanthus
muellerianus could be labelled as Cd and Pb hyperaccumulator (Baker and Brooks et al., 1989). This suggests
that phyllanthus muellerianus could be used for phytoremediation of Cd and Pb.
V.
Conclusion
Based on values of BAF > 1, phyllanthus muellerianus has the potential to be a hyperaccumulator of
Pb. Similarly TF > 1 values for Pb and Cd shows that phyllanthus muellerianus has the ability to be used as
phytoremediation agent in cleaning up led and cadmium contaminated land such as Enigba lead-zinc derelict in
Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
Acknowledgement
The author is grateful to Ebonyi State Univeristy for TETFund seed grant aimed at conducting Pilot Study on
Phytoremediation of Enyigba lead-zinc derelict.
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DOI: 10.9790/2402-1006030811
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IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT)

Screening Of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose Of

Materials and Method

Screening Of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose Of Phytoremediation Of Lead In....

Results And Discussion

Parameter Conc. (mg/kg)

Table 2: Soil Properties

Table 3: Translocation Factors of heavy metals in phyllanthus muellerianus

Screening Of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose Of Phytoremediation Of Lead In....

Mean Soil Concentration

Screening Of Phyllanthus Muellerianus For The Purpose Of Phytoremediation Of Lead In....

Hogan M., (2010) The Encyclopaedia of Earth. www.eoearth.org/article/Heavy_metal

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