Coal mining activities have been ongoing in Okaba for years without adequate attention paid to pollution and reclamation. Soil and plants were sampled from Okaba coal mine to determine the metal amount in the soil, plants and to single out plants with potential for phytoremediation. The samples were prepared, separated into various tissues, labeled and taken to the laboratory. Digestion was carried out using acid mixture of nitric acid (HNO3): perchloric acid (HCLO4) for the plants and nitric acid (HNO3): hydrochloric acid (HCl): perchloric acid (HCLO4) was used for the soil. The concentrations of metals from the samples were determined using EDX3600B X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Sky ray Instruments Inc., USA). Bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) or extraction coefficient (EC) were calculated to pin point plants that have ability for hyperaccumulation, phytoextraction, phytostabilization and the capacity to store up these metals for harvesting. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to highlight the relationship between the variables. This study has revealed that Ageratum conyzoides Linn (ACL), Desmodium velutinum (DV), Triumfetta rhiomdoidea Jacq. (TRJ), Gleichenia linearis (Burns) (GL), Selaginella myosurus (SM), and Sida linifolia juss.excav. (SL) had potential as hyperaccumulators of nickel. Eleven (11) plants had potential for phytoextraction of manganese (Mn), and six (6) plants had stabilization potential for the same metal. Eight (8) phytoextractors and seven (7) stabilizers were recorded for Ni. Eclipta alba (L) Hassk (EAH) (location 4) and TRJ were phytostabilizer plants for Pb. Six (6) other plants had potential as phytoextractors of Pb. Eight (8) of the studied plants were suitable for phytoextraction of Ni, and five (5) plants were suitable as phytostabilizers. Most of the plants were found to be useful for phytoremediation of the soil.
Share this page on your timeline