1174995 - Phytoremediation Study: Comparison of Heavy Metal Removal from Leachate Using Plant Species Native to Grenada

Contamination of soils and water from open dumpsite leachate is a frequent problem in developing nations. Water supplies are threatened when water percolates through the waste, bringing with it a variety of substances, such as metals, bacteria, viruses, flammables, organic chemicals, and other toxins. Metals in particular are complex in terms of the pathways they can choose in the environment; unlike organics, they do not degrade within the environment. Due to increases in population and affluence, the generation of waste has increased, meaning that leachate treatment will become an increasing problem. In developing countries, there is a lack of landfills, and having an open dumpsite is common practice. Rainwater seeps through the waste, producing large quantities of leachate that is highly toxic and is potential harmful to ground and surface water and surrounding ecosystems.
The overarching research goal is to evaluate a low-cost method of removing heavy metals from leachate in developing countries, using a combination of phytoremediation and soil amendments. The Perseverance Dump Site in Grenada will be used as a case study. Specific objectives of the research are:
1. To assess the potential of soil amendments (fishbone meal, fertilizer, and fruit peels) to bind/adsorb heavy metals in leachate from open dumpsites, (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Mn, Ni, V, As, Cd, Fe).
2. To compare the rate and efficiency of a plant species native to Grenada (Vetiver grass) in removing heavy metals from dumpsite leachate, with and without soil amendments.
3. To determine potential bioenergy production from the plant species (Vetiver grass)
A batch study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various soil amendment quantities to remove heavy metals from synthetic leachate. The amendment concentration with the highest removal efficiency was selected for bench-scale phytoremediation experiments.