Economic Incentive for Applying Vetiver Grass to Remediate Lead, Copper and Zinc Contaminated Soils

Abstract

The application of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizaniodes) for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils can be promoted by economic return through essential oil production. Four levels of lead (0, 500, 2000, and 8000 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil), copper (0, 100, 400, and 1600 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil) and zinc (0, 400, 1600, and 6400 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil) were used to study their effects on vetiver growth, essential oil composition and yield. This study also investigated the effect of nitrogen concentrations on vetiver oil yield. Vetiver accumulated high concentrations of Pb, Cu and Zn in roots (3246, 754 and 2666 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) and small amounts of contaminants in shoots (327, 55, and 642 mg kg⁻¹, respectively). Oil content and yield were not affected at low and moderate concentrations of Cu and Zn. Only the application of Pb had a significant detrimental effect on oil composition. Extraction of vetiver essential oils by hydrodistillation produced heavy metal free products. High level of nitrogen reduced oil yields. Results show that phytoremediation of Cu and Zn contaminated soils by vetiver can generate revenue from the commercialization of oil extracts.

KEY WORDS:

• economic return
• essential oil
• phytoremediation
• heavy metals

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The financial support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and Gelita Australia Pty Ltd. are greatly appreciated. We would like to thank Van Bong Dang and Ngoc Thanh Vo for technical assistance.