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Metal remediation potential of naturally occurring plants growing on barren fly ash dumps

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Abstract

The present study aimed to elucidate the remediation potential of visibly dominant, naturally growing plants obtained from an early colonized fly ash dump near a coal-based thermal power station. The vegetation comprised of grasses like Saccharum spontaneum L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., herbs such as Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Sida rhombifolia L., Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants, Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & H.E. Robins along with tree saplings Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. The growth of the vegetation improved the N and P content of the ash. Average metal concentrations (mg kg−1) in the ash samples and plants were in order Mn (345.1) > Zn (63.7) > Ni (29.3) > Cu (16.8) > Cr (9.9) > Pb (1.7) > Cd (0.41) and Cr (58.58) > Zn (52.74) > Mn (39.09) > Cu (10.71) > Ni (7.45) > Pb (5.52) > Cd (0.14), respectively. The plants showed fly ash dump phytostabilization potential and accumulated Cr (80.19–178.11 mg kg−1) above maximum allowable concentrations for plant tissues. Positive correlations were also obtained for metal concentration in plant roots versus fly ash. Saccharum spontaneum showed highest biomass and is the most efficient plant which can be used for the restoration of ash dumps.

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Acknowledgements

First author is thankful to Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) grant (No. DST/INSPIRE Fellowship/2014/295) provided to her during the research period. Dr. V.C. Pandey is also grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for providing the Scientist’s Pool Scheme (Pool No. 13 (8931-A)/2017).

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  1. CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

    Deblina Maiti

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Vimal Chandra Pandey

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  1. Deblina Maiti
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Correspondence to Vimal Chandra Pandey.

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Maiti, D., Pandey, V.C. Metal remediation potential of naturally occurring plants growing on barren fly ash dumps. Environ Geochem Health 43, 1415–1426 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00679-z

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