Chapter 16
Bioremediation of Heavy Metals Using
Salvina Molesta – A Freshwater
Aquatic Weed
T. G. Nithya , P. Snega Priya, and M. Kamaraj
Abstract Heavy metal toxicity and the threat of their bioaccumulation in the food
chain is one of the major environmental problems faced by our modern society. This
challenge can be overcome by a promising environmental-friendly and cost-effective
method using plants as a bioremediation system ie., phytoremediation process.
Aquatic ferns in particular exhibit exorbitant potential to remove various contaminants including heavy metals, organic compounds, radionuclides from the environment. Among various aquatic macrophytes, Salvinia a free-floating aquatic fern
holds a distinct position because of high productivity and tolerance to a wide
range of temperatures. Salvinia is a genus of floating ferns belonging to the family
Salviniaceae and it is a potentially growing freshwater weed causing disturbances to
the aquatic habitats and is under the urge of eradication in developed countries. At
present, giant Salvinia is one of the most widespread, environmentally, economically, and socially destructive invasive weed worldwide. Though these aquatic
weeds are a disturbing factor to the environment they possess significant bioremediation properties. In the present study bioremediation of various heavy metal
contaminants using S molesta will be discussed with relevant data structure and
patterns of study and also the significance of weeds as a potential bioremediation
agent will be elucidated.
Keywords Salvinia molesta · Phytoremediation · Aquatic ferns · Eco friendly ·
Heavy metals
T. G. Nithya (*)
Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur,
Tamilnadu, India
P. Snega Priya
Department of Medical Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center,
Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu, India
M. Kamaraj
Department of Biotechnology, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa
Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. Aravind et al. (eds.), Strategies and Tools for Pollutant Mitigation,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63575-6_16
337
Bioremediation of Heavy Metals Using
Salvina Molesta – A Freshwater
Aquatic Weed
T. G. Nithya , P. Snega Priya, and M. Kamaraj
Abstract Heavy metal toxicity and the threat of their bioaccumulation in the food
chain is one of the major environmental problems faced by our modern society. This
challenge can be overcome by a promising environmental-friendly and cost-effective
method using plants as a bioremediation system ie., phytoremediation process.
Aquatic ferns in particular exhibit exorbitant potential to remove various contaminants including heavy metals, organic compounds, radionuclides from the environment. Among various aquatic macrophytes, Salvinia a free-floating aquatic fern
holds a distinct position because of high productivity and tolerance to a wide
range of temperatures. Salvinia is a genus of floating ferns belonging to the family
Salviniaceae and it is a potentially growing freshwater weed causing disturbances to
the aquatic habitats and is under the urge of eradication in developed countries. At
present, giant Salvinia is one of the most widespread, environmentally, economically, and socially destructive invasive weed worldwide. Though these aquatic
weeds are a disturbing factor to the environment they possess significant bioremediation properties. In the present study bioremediation of various heavy metal
contaminants using S molesta will be discussed with relevant data structure and
patterns of study and also the significance of weeds as a potential bioremediation
agent will be elucidated.
Keywords Salvinia molesta · Phytoremediation · Aquatic ferns · Eco friendly ·
Heavy metals
T. G. Nithya (*)
Department of Biotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur,
Tamilnadu, India
P. Snega Priya
Department of Medical Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center,
Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu, India
M. Kamaraj
Department of Biotechnology, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa
Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. Aravind et al. (eds.), Strategies and Tools for Pollutant Mitigation,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63575-6_16
337