Do Lichens have the Ability to Remove Arsenic from Water?

Rajesh Bajpai; Vertika Shukla; Upasana Pandey; D. K. Upreti

doi:10.18811/ijpen.v5i01.8

Rajesh Bajpai Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Vertika Shukla Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Upasana Pandey Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
D. K. Upreti Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Diversity Systematics and Herbarium Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18811/ijpen.v5i01.8

Keywords: Arsenic, Groundwater, Lichen biofilter, Lichens

Abstract

Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater is a serious threat to human health. Apart from anthropogenic sources, favorable geological conditions also result in elevation of the arsenic problem in Asia, especially in South East Asia. More than 100 million people in South East Asian countries especially Bangladesh, West Bengal (India), Vietnam, China, drink and cook with arsenic-contaminated water, which causes chronic health problems for a long time. A large number of mechanism for removing As from drinking water includes the use of filters, which differ in their efficiency and applicability. In the present study, we propose the use of biofilters prepared from lichen biowaste for removal of arsenic from contaminated water. Six lichen species were tested for the applicability as biofilters. The physicochemical analysis confirmed the presence of high elemental (C, N, H, O) content in the treated lichen species. It was observed that species having high elemental content were able to remove arsenic more effectively.