Biosorbent has received more and more attention because it combines the advantages of simple making, low cost and high sorption capacity. Aquatic macrophytes have high sorption and accumulation capacity for many heavy metals, therefore they are important and can be potentially applied in treating wastewater containing low concentrations of heavy metals and restoring polluted water bodies. Howerver, mechanistic studies on heavy metal sorption/absorption by aquatic macrophytes are still not deep enough. In order to study the characteristics of heavy metal adsorption by aquatic macrophytes and its physiological responses, laboratory experiments will be conducted by taking heavy metal and aquatic macrophyte system as an object of the present study. Key factors that influence the process of heavy metal sorption/absorption by aquatic macrophytes will be discussed to find out the mechanisms of biosorption and to optimize the conditions for sorption and absorption, and a kinetics model that is suited to describe the process of heavy metal sorption/absorption by aquatic macrophytes will be built. The study is critical in further elucidating the key scientific problems in the process of biosorption, and will provide necessary and scientific basis for utilizing aquatic macrophytes to controll heavy metal pollution.

Performing Organization: Institute of Urban Environment, CAS
Sponsor: National Nature Science Foundation of China (NNSFC)
Headed by Yan Chang-zhou
Start Date: 2008.01.01
End Date: 2010.12.31