Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by Biomass Derived from Broadleaf Cattail and Water Hyacinth

The potential of cattail (Typha latifolia) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) biomass to remove Pb and Cd ions from metal solutions was determined. The removal efficiency of Pb and Cd decreased with the increase in the initial concentration of metal aqueous solution but increased with the increased biomass doses. The biosorption was unaffected by the increase in pH from 5.0 to 6.5. Metal removal efficiency increased with increased contact time and then reached equilibrium in about 45 min. Higher qmax (the Langmuir model) and KF (the Freundlich constant) suggest that both cattail and water hyacinth biomass have a greater affinity for Pb(II) than Cd(II). The better fitness of the adsorption kinetics in the pseudo-second-order model than in the pseudo-first-order model indicates that biomass has an inclination toward chemisorption. The present study showed that cattail and water hyacinth biomass are promising biosorbents that provide a green, practical, and cheap solution to household water filtering systems in rural communities

Comparative Toxicity of Heavy Metals Cd, Pb, and Zn to Three Acrocarpous Moss Species using Chlorophyll Contents

Mosses have often been used for biomonitoring because of their diversity of habitats, structural simplicity, and rapid multiplication rate. This research aimed to study the tolerance of heavy metal in 3 species of terricolous mosses i.e., Barbula consanguinea, Hyophila apiculata, and H. involuta. The gametophores of mosses were immersed at 4 concentrations of each of the heavy metals Cd, Pb, and Zn as well as in controls with no heavy metal. After 10, 20, and 30 days of exposure, mosses were extracted for chlorophyll-a in ethanol. The extracted chlorophyll-a was analyzed by spectrophotometer at 664 nm. The results revealed that the amount of chlorophyll-a in all species decreased with increasing concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn. The degree of metal toxicity for all species was Cd > Pb > Zn. By comparing the ratio of extracted chlorophyll-a in heavy metal-treated mosses to chlorophyll-a extracted in control mosses, the tolerance against 3 heavy metals in 3 mosses was H. involuta > B. consanguinea > H. apiculata. Possibly, H. involuta can be used for biomonitoring of heavy metals in contaminated environments in the future

Baseline study of the morphological and genetic characteristics of Haemoproteus parasites in wild pigeons (Columba livia) from paddy fields in Thailand

Haemoproteus columbae is a common haemosporidian parasite of wild pigeons (Columba livia) reported worldwide. In Thailand, the wild pigeon population is increasing due to paddy field monoculture. However, there are limited reports on the presence of H. columbae in these pigeon populations. The aim of the study was to characterize H. columbae in wild pigeons. A total of 87 wild pigeons were examined using microscopic and molecular methods. Haemoproteus columbae was detected in approximately 27.6% of pigeons and their morphological characteristics were described. The partial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequence of H. columbae was then characterized into three common lineages (HAECOL1, COLIV03, and COQUI05). By highlighting the morphologic and genetic characteristics of H. columbae commonly found in this population of pigeons, this study provides essential regional knowledge about haemosporidian parasites that could benefit future taxonomic and phylogeographic studies