Simulating of Phytoremediation Time of Cadmium and Copper Spiked Soils by Salvia sclarea

Phytoremediation is one of the environmental friendly technology that uses plants to clean up soil from heavy metals contamination. The prerequisite for successful phytoremediation is the existence of hyperaccumulator plants. The objective of this study was simulation phytoremediation time of Cd and Cu-spiked soils by Salvia sclarea. A mathematical model was used based on soil and plant responses to Cd and Cu pollutants. To verify the model, an extensive experimental set up was established to obtain the needed data. Large quantity of a sandy loam soil was thoroughly mixed with Cd and Cu to obtain homogeneous concentration of these pollutants within the soil matrix. The Cd and Cu spiked soils were packed into the designated pots. Salvia sclarea seeds were germinated in the containing 7.5 Kg of Cd and Cu spiked soils. The proposed models then were calibrated using the collected data and validated quantitatively. The results indicated that phytoremediation rate of Cd and Cu by Salvia s. is zero-order function for Cd and Cu concentration in soil. The results also indicated that the proposed model with linear adsorption isotherm can reasonably predict the time needed for the remediation of soil Cd and Cu.