Effects of pH on boron accumulation in cattail (Typha latifolia) shoots, and evaluation of floating islands and upward flow mesocosms for the removal of boron from wastewater

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 412; no. 1/2; pp. 163 - 176
• Main Authors: Xin, Junliang, Huang, Baifei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer 01.03.2017; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Aquatic plants; Bioaccumulation; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Boron; Boron (Chemical element); Chemical properties; Control; Ecology; Environmental aspects; Flow; Flowers & plants; Grasses; Hydroponics; Islands; Life Sciences; Methods; Nutrient concentrations; Observations; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Regular Article; Sewage treatment; Soil Science & Conservation; Studies; Toxicity; Typha latifolia; Wastewater pollution; Water treatment; Floating island; Wastewater treatment; Boron removal; Upward-flow mesocosm
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-016-3058-z

Aims: The objectives of this research were to determine the optimal pH for maximizing boron (B) accumulation in cattail (Typha latifolia) shoots, and to develop treatment systems for the removal of B from wastewater. Methods: We performed a hydroponic experiment to examine the effects of pH on shoot B accumulation in cattail plants. Cattails were grown in nutrient solutions containing B at three concentrations (25, 75, and 125 mg L⁻¹, in the form of H₃BO₃), supplied at seven pH levels ranging from 4.0 to 10.0. In addition, we compared the effectiveness of B removal by cattails cultured in floating islands and in upward-flow mesocosms. Results: The effects of pH on growth and B accumulation, although significant, were relatively small compared to the effect of B on the relationship between shoot growth and shoot B accumulation. Cattail floating islands and cattail upward-flow mesocosms reduced concentrations of B in the solutions by 12.5–21.4 % and 12.2–21.3 %, respectively, in the first cycle, and by 11.0–14.2% and 4.0–13.4 %, respectively, in the second cycle. The higher B removal efficiencies of the floating islands occurred at lower B concentrations, whereas the opposite was observed for the upward-flow mesocosms. Cattails can regenerate rapidly after harvesting of the upper shoots; however, B concentrations in the regenerative upper shoots were found to be lower than that in the first-growth upper shoots. Conclusions: Optimal pH for shoot B accumulation by cattails is 6.0. Although direct comparisons between the effectiveness of B removal by floating islands and upward-flow mesocosms are difficult, we concluded that upward-flow mesocosms are more suitable for the treatment of B-contaminated wastewater.