Removal of Arsenic with the Process of Phytoremediation using Pteris vittata Ferns

This paper focuses on determining an efficient and simple method to remove arsenic from water. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust. Arsenic is very toxic when found in large quantities of drinking water. In countries around the world, particularly Bangladesh, arsenic contaminates the groundwater supply. Also, with the United States current restriction increase on arsenic in drinking water, reducing from 50 ppb to 10 ppb, many small water treatment facilities are now over the current drinking water standard. There is a dire need to develop cost effective treatment technology for arsenic removal. This project proposes to investigate the removal of arsenic from water by using the Pteris Vittata fern in a phytoremediation process. The phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated water is being tested using Pteris Vittata ferns. Small Pteris Vittata ferns were purchased and placed into five aeroponic growth systems. The growth systems each have varying concentrations and species of arsenic (arsenite and arsenate) in the water, and the systems are allowed to run continuously for 6-weeks. At one week intervals samples are taken from the systems and tested for arsenic concentrations using an Induced Coupled Plasma. After 6-weeks all of the systems experienced positive removal. Arsenic removal can be experienced after just one week. Total removals at the end of the 6-week period can be as high at 68%.