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Assessments of Heavy Metal Accumulation Capacity of Selected Plant Species for Phytoremediation: A Case Study in Little Akaki River

Mekonnen Amberber and Fantu Kifle

Studies on assessments of heavy metal accumulation capacity of selected plant species were carried out in little Akaki river, Addis Ababa city administration, Ethiopia. The aim was to identify plant species and assess the heavy metal accumulation capacity for the Phytoremediation. The heavy metal concentrations in the leaves of selected plant species grown along little Akaki River, soil and water were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer at AAEPA. The water analysis result indicated that there was Cd (0.077 mg/L), Cr (0.90 mg/L), Pb (<0.001 mg/L) and Ni (0.034 mg/L) in the river. Similarly, the soil analysis result indicated that Cr (153, 22 mg/L), Ni (30.71 mg/L) and Pb (9.55 mg/L) were detected from the soil but Cd was not detected. The plant analysis result indicated that the species Arundo donax, Ricinus communis and Vernonia amygdalina had a good potential plant that absorbs Cd, Cr and Pb in different concentrations, while Ni was not detected in the leaves of selected plants. The species Arundo donax accumulated Cr (80.90 mg/L), Pb (37.30 mg/L) and Cd (25.98 mg/L), Vernonia amygdalina accumulated Cr (83.59 mg/L), Cd (44.46 mg/L) and Pb (14.49 mg/L) and Ricinus communis accumulated Cr (62.06 mg/L), Cd (16.64 mg/L) and Pb (16.64 mg/L). It was concluded that the selected plant species had a good accumulation capacity of Cr, Pb and Cd for the phytoremediation activity.