Kimathi, Erastus Tuerandu (2011) The Potential of Arrowroots (Colocasia esculanta) in Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in the Meru Region. Masters thesis, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology.
![[img]](http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
PDF
Kimathi,E.K-Msc Environmental Legislation & Management.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (2MB) | Request a copy |
Abstract
Potential health hazard implications of heavy metals in taro/arrowroot (Colocasia esculenta) are imminent especially if taro is cultivated in heavily polluted water bodies due to the fact that taro plant bio-accumulate heavy metals. Determination of heavy metals in food crops is important in order to establish their concentration levels. This study sought to investigate the presence and concentration of heavy metals: Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Mercury, Manganese, Lead and Zinc in the leaves and corms of the taro/arrowroot plant and the corresponding water and sediments from Gachioma and Karumanthi rivers in Meru Town of Meru County. The concentration levels of these heavy metals in the plant were determined to assess whether taro can accumulate them to toxic levels. Taro corms and leaves together with water and sediment samples were collected along the two rivers. The solid samples were first dried in the sun then in an oven and ashed in the muffle furnace. The residue was leached from the vessel using hot concentrated hydrochloric acid then digested using a mixture of nitric, perchloric and sulphuric acids in a volume ratio of 3:1:1. The samples were analyzed at JKUAT Chemistry laboratories using the Buck Scientific Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) model 210 VGP. Microsoft Excel Computer Software was used to analyze the data. Analysis showed that concentration of mercury was below detection limits in all the analytes from the two rivers. Cadmium concentration levels in water from the two rivers were below detection limits. The study showed that concentration of chromium was highest in Gachioma River with a mean of 0.162 ± 0.003 ppm while the concentration for all
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Geoffrey Obatsa |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Jun 2017 13:44 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Jun 2017 13:44 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/1650 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |