Quantitative assessment of the toxic effects of heavy metals on 1,2-dichloroethane biodegradation in co-contaminated soil under aerobic condition

1,2-Dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) is one of the most hazardous pollutant of soil and groundwater, and is produced in excess of 5.44 × 10⁹ kg annually. Owing to their toxicity, persistence and potential for bioaccumulation, there is a growing interest in technologies for their removal. Heavy metals are known to be toxic to soil microorganisms at high concentrations and can hinder the biodegradation of organic contaminants. In this study, the inhibitory effect of heavy metals, namely; arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, on the aerobic biodegradation of 1,2-DCA by autochthonous microorganisms was evaluated in soil microcosm setting. The presence of heavy metals was observed to have a negative impact on the biodegradation of 1,2-DCA in both soil samples tested, with the toxic effect being more pronounced in loam soil, than in clay soil. Generally, 75 ppm As³⁺, 840 ppm Hg²⁺, and 420 ppm Pb²⁺ resulted in 34.24%, 40.64%, and 45.94% increase in the half live (t_½) of 1,2-DCA, respectively, in loam soil, while concentrations above 127.5 ppm Cd²⁺, 840 ppm Hg²⁺ and 420 ppm of Pb²⁺ and less than 75 ppm As³⁺ was required to cause a >10% increase in the t_½ of 1,2-DCA in clay soil. A dose-dependent relationship between degradation rate constant (k₁) of 1,2-DCA and metal ion concentrations was observed for all the heavy metals tested, except for Hg²⁺. This study demonstrated that different heavy metals have different impacts on the degree of 1,2-DCA degradation. Results also suggest that the degree of inhibition is metal specific and is also dependent on several factors including; soil type, pH, moisture content and available nutrients.     

Competitive biosorption of lead, cadmium, copper, and arsenic ions using algae

The present study aims to evaluate the competitive biosorption of lead, cadmium, copper, and arsenic ions by using native algae. A series of experiments were carried out in a batch reactor to obtain equilibrium data for adsorption of single, binary, ternary, and quaternary metal solutions. The biosorption of these metals is based on ion exchange mechanism accompanied by the release of light metals such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Experimental parameters such as pH, initial metal concentrations, and temperature were studied. The optimum pH found for removal were 5 for Cd²⁺ and As³⁺ and 3 and 4 for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺, respectively. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to find the effects of functional groups of algae in biosorption process. The results showed that Pb²⁺ made a greater change in the functional groups of algal biomass due to high affinity to this metal. An ion exchange model was found suitable for describing the biosorption process. The affinity constants sequence calculated for single system was K _Pb > K _Cu > K _Cd > K _As; these values reduced in binary, ternary, and quaternary systems. In addition, the experimental data showed that the biosorption of the four metals fitted well the pseudo-second-order kinetics model.     

Evaluation of effectiveness of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate in removing metal toxicity toward sea urchin embryo-larval applying the TIE

Since the development of the TIE (Toxicity Identification and Evaluation) in 1988 it has been assumed that the capacity of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate to complex some metals, and thus remove their toxicity, can be applied to both freshwater and seawater ecotoxicological tests and the results subsequently interpreted. However, it is now known that there is a wide variability in the extent of this complexation. In this context, the removal of toxicity caused by the presence of Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ag¹⁺ and Se²⁺, through metal complexation by EDTA and sodium thiosulfate, in relation to the performance of embryo-larval tests with the sea urchin Arbacia lixula was investigated. It was observed that EDTA was capable of removing the toxicity of Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ while sodium thiosulfate only reduced the toxicity of Ag¹⁺. Compared to the complexation observed in freshwater ecotoxicological tests, the complexing agents used in this study (EDTA and sodium thiosulfate) have a lower capacity to complex metals in the marine ecotoxicological test with A. lixula.     

液/固体系中硅藻土对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附机制

为了提高硅藻土在重金属废水处理上的应用水平,采用静态吸附实验考察了液/固体系中硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋的吸附影响因素、吸附等温线和吸附动力学属性。结果表明,随着投加量的减少,离子初始浓度的提高,pH值的增大,吸附作用时间的延长,硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋吸附量不断上升;硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋的等温吸附都符合Langmuir模型,硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋最大吸附量分别为10.428 mg/g和7.916 mg/g,硅藻土对Pb2＋具有更好的吸附能力;Pb2＋具有较低的水合自由能,更容易脱去水膜与硅藻土孔道内的活性基团发生吸附作用;双常数扩散方程可以很好地描述硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋的吸附动力学属性,硅藻土对Cd2＋有较快的吸附速率。     

Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by a novel HEA/AMPS copolymer hydrogel: preparation, characterization, and mechanism

This study aims to synthesize 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic (AMPS) acid-based hydrogels by gamma radiation and to investigate their swelling behavior and heavy metal ion adsorption capabilities. The copolymer hydrogels prepared were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The research showed that the copolymer hydrogel was beneficial for permeation due to its porous structure. In addition, the experimental group A-2-d [70 % water volume ratio and (n (AMPS)/n (HEA))?=?1:1] was an optimal adsorbent. The optimal pH was 6.0 and the optimal temperature was 15 °C. Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³+ achieved adsorption equilibriums within 24 h, whereas Cr³⁺ reached equilibrium in 5 h. Pb²+, Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, and Fe³⁺ maximum load capacity was 1,000 mg L^?1, whereas the Cu²⁺ maximum capacity was 500 mg L^?1. The priority order in the multicomponent adsorption was Cr³⁺>Fe³⁺>Cu²⁺>Cd²⁺>Pb²⁺. The adsorption process of the HEA/AMPS copolymer hydrogel for the heavy metal ions was mainly due to chemisorption, and was only partly due to physisorption, according to the pseudo-second-order equation and Langmuir adsorption isotherm analyses. The HEA/AMPS copolymer hydrogel was confirmed to be an effective adsorbent for heavy metal ion adsorption.     

巯基化改性膨润土对重金属的吸附性能

以钙基膨润土为基本材料,制备了巯基化改性膨润土,并对比研究了此材料与其他17种改性膨润土和原材料对重金属的吸附性能.结果表明,巯基化膨润土对镉的吸附能力显著优于其他材料,在本实验条件下,其对镉的吸附率高于其他材料30％以上,对镉的吸附量可达52.1 mg/g.巯基化膨润土对铅的吸附能力在重金属竞争吸附条件下优于其他材料,而其对镍的吸附能力在所有材料中处于中等水平;另外,巯基化膨润土对3种重金属的吸附受重金属竞争吸附影响较小.因此,在所研究的材料中,巯基化膨润土材料是一种最理想的重金属吸附材料.     

改性花生壳对Cd(Ⅱ)和Pb(Ⅱ)的吸附机理

以前期制得改性块状花生壳为对象,测定改性花生壳等电点,考察离子强度对改性花生壳吸附Cd2+和Pb2+的影响、吸附前后吸附质溶液pH变化情况及蒸馏水、NaCl、HNO3、柠檬酸和EDTA 5种解吸液对Cd2+和Pb2+的解吸效果,并通过X-射线光电子能谱仪和傅里叶变换红外光谱仪对吸附前后的改性花生壳进行表征,推测并证实了改性花生壳对Cd2+和Pb2+可能的吸附机理。结果表明,改性花生壳对Cd2+和Pb2+可能的吸附机理是:Cd2+是通过外层络合、离子交换和内层络合的联合作用被吸附的;Pb2+主要是与改性花生壳上的O、N等活性基团发生内层络合;此外,改性花生壳表面生成的二氧化锰对Cd2+和Pb2+的吸附也起到一定的作用。     

Effect of Ca2+-ions on the absorption of Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ by humic substances

Distribution coefficients for the sorption of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by peat were determined as a function of the Ca²⁺-content of peat as well as of the Ca²⁺-concentration in the solution. The amount of heavy metal ions taken up was measured for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by atomic absorption spectrometry and for Pb²⁺ by using Pb-212 as a radioactive tracer.The results show that the distribution coefficients of the heavy metal ions increase, if one increases the initial ratio of the $\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{-}\text{ions}$ in the peat phase. The distribution coefficients for the heavy metal ions decrease, however, if - at constant initial Ca²⁺-content of the peat - the Ca²⁺-concentration of the solution is increased.     

Hexavalent chromium reduction and plant growth promotion by Staphylococcusarlettae strain Cr11

Cr(VI), a mutagenic and carcinogenic pollutant in industrial effluents, was effectively reduced by an indigenous tannery effluent isolate Staphylococcus arlettae strain Cr11 under aerobic conditions. The isolate could tolerate Cr(VI) up to 2000 and 5000 mg L⁻¹ in liquid and solid media respectively. S. arlettae Cr11 effectively reduced 98% of 100 mg L⁻¹ Cr(VI) in 24 h. Reduction for initial Cr(VI) concentrations of 500 and 1000 mg L⁻¹ was 98% and 75%, respectively in 120 h. The isolate was also positive for siderophore, indole acetic acid, ammonia and catalase production, phosphate solubilization and biofilm formation in the presence and absence of Cr(VI). The isolate showed halotolerance (10% NaCl) and cross tolerance to other toxic heavy metals such as Hg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺. Bacterial inoculation of Triticum aestivum in controlled petri dish and soil environment showed significant increase in percent germination, root and shoot length as well as dry and wet weight in Cr(VI) treated and untreated samples. This is the first report of simultaneous Cr(VI) reduction and plant growth promotion for a S. arlettae strain.     

Studies on arsenic transforming groundwater bacteria and their role in arsenic release from subsurface sediment

Ten different Gram-negative arsenic (As)-resistant and As-transforming bacteria isolated from As-rich groundwater of West Bengal were characterized to assess their role in As mobilization. 16S rRNA gene analysis confirmed the affiliation of these bacteria to genera Achromobacter, Brevundimonas, Rhizobium, Ochrobactrum, and Pseudoxanthomonas. Along with superior As-resistance and As-transformation abilities, the isolates showed broad metabolic capacity in terms of utilizing a variety of electron donors and acceptors (including As) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. Arsenic transformation studies performed under various conditions indicated highly efficient As³⁺ oxidation or As⁵⁺ reduction kinetics. Genes encoding As³⁺ oxidase (aioA), cytosolic As⁵⁺ reductase (arsC), and As³⁺ efflux pump (arsB and acr3) were detected within the test isolates. Sequence analyses suggested that As homeostasis genes (particularly arsC, arsB, and acr3) were acquired by most of the bacteria through horizontal gene transfer. A strong correlation between As resistance phenotype and the presence of As³⁺ transporter genes was observed. Microcosm study showed that bacterial strain having cytosolic As⁵⁺ reductase property could play important role in mobilizing As (as As³⁺) from subsurface sediment.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) anaerobic degradation in marine sediments: microcosm study and role of autochthonous microbial communities

Polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) biodegradation was followed for 1 year in microcosms containing marine sediments collected from Mar Piccolo (Taranto, Italy) chronically contaminated by this class of hazardous compounds. The microcosms were performed under strictly anaerobic conditions with or without the addition of Dehalococcoides mccartyi, the main microorganism known to degrade PCBs through the anaerobic reductive dechlorination process. Thirty PCB congeners were monitored during the experiments revealing that the biodegradation occurred in all microcosms with a decrease in hepta-, hexa-, and penta-chlorobiphenyls (CBs) and a parallel increase in low chlorinated PCBs (tri-CBs and tetra-CBs). The concentrations of the most representative congeners detected in the original sediment, such as 245-245-CB and 2345-245-CB, and of the mixture 2356-34-CB+234-245-CB, decreased by 32.5, 23.8, and 46.7 %, respectively, after only 70 days of anaerobic incubation without any bioaugmentation treatment. Additionally, the structure and population dynamics of the microbial key players involved in the biodegradative process and of the entire mixed microbial community were accurately defined by Catalyzed Reporter Deposition Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (CARD-FISH) in both the original sediment and during the operation of the microcosm. The reductive dehalogenase genes of D. mccartyi, specifically involved in PCB dechlorination, were also quantified using real-time PCR (qPCR). Our results demonstrated that the autochthonous microbial community living in the marine sediment, including D. mccartyi (6.32E+06 16S rRNA gene copy numbers g^?1 sediment), was able to efficiently sustain the biodegradation of PCBs when controlled anaerobic conditions were imposed.     

菱铁矿催化过氧化氢-过硫酸钠修复地下水中1,2-二氯乙烷污染

采用菱铁矿催化过氧化氢-过硫酸钠双氧化剂体系去除地下水中的1,2-二氯乙烷,通过研究菱铁矿催化机理以及氧化剂浓度两方面探讨双氧体系较单氧体系有较高去除率的原因,探讨了双氧体系1,2-DCA降解动力学和氯离子平衡。研究结果表明,菱铁矿催化双氧体系可以有效去除溶液中的1,2-DCA,本体系条件下去除率可达到95%以上。其较低的pH,较高Fe2+浓度,较高自由基生成量和氧化剂浓度,使得双氧体系较Fenton-Like体系有较高1,2-DCA去除率。菱铁矿催化双氧体系去除1,2-DCA反应过程中有中间产物生成,但最终完全脱氯,没有中间产物残留。     

Bioaugmentation of polyethylene succinate-contaminated soil with Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 results in increased microbial activity and better polymer degradation

Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 isolated from soil degrades polyethylene succinate (PES) efficiently in the laboratory. However, this organism may not be able to degrade PES with similar efficiency in a natural habitat. Since in situ remediation is preferred for the effective removal of recalcitrant materials like plastic, in the current study, bioaugmentation potential of this organism was investigated. To investigate the potential of the AKS2 strain to bioaugment the PES-contaminated soil, a microcosm-based study was carried out wherein naturally attenuated, biostimulated, and AKS2-inoculated (bioaugmented) soil samples were examined for their ability to degrade PES. The results showed better degradation of PES by bioaugmented soil than other microcosms. Consistent with it, a higher number of PES-degrading organisms were found in the bioaugmented microcosm. The bioaugmented microcosm also exhibited a higher level of average well color development in BiOLOG ECO plate assay than the other two. The corresponding Shannon–Weaver index and Gini coefficient revealed a higher soil microbial diversity of bioaugmented microcosm than the others. This was further supported by community-level physiological profile of three different microcosms wherein we have observed better utilization of different carbon sources by bioaugmented microcosms. Collectively, these results demonstrate that bioaugmentation of PES-contaminated soil with AKS2 not only enhances polymer degradation but also increases microbial diversity. Bioaugmentation of soil with AKS2 enhances PES degradation without causing damage to soil ecology. Thus, Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 has the potential to be implemented as a useful tool for in situ bioremediation of PES.     

Enhancement of phenanthrene adsorption on a clayey soil and clay minerals by coexisting lead or cadmium

Phenanthrene is commonly present together with heavy metals at many contaminated sites. This study investigated the influence of coexisting lead (Pb²⁺) or cadmium (Cd²⁺) on phenanthrene adsorption on soils. Batch experiments were conducted under different geochemical conditions including pH, mineral structure, organic matter content, and varying amounts of heavy metals. The results showed that the presence of heavy metals in solution at a fixed pH of 5.8 ± 0.1 enhanced phenanthrene adsorption, the extent of which was closely related to the concentrations and the electro-negativity of the metals. The enhancement on phenanthrene adsorption was positively correlated to the amount of adsorbed metals. Although Cd²⁺ is a softer Lewis acid, Pb²⁺ displayed a more significant effect as it was adsorbed to a greater extent on the soil surfaces. Thus, density of cation accumulation appears to be more influential than metal softness in enhancing phenanthrene adsorption. Moreover, with a portion of organic matter removed by heating at 550 °C, there was a stronger enhancement of phenanthrene adsorption by coexisting Pb²⁺, indicating an increasingly dominant mechanisms associated with Pb²⁺ at a lower organic matter content. Similar enhancement phenomenon was observed on bentonite and kaolinite, probably resulting from the cation-π bonding between the adsorbed soft metal cations and the aromatic ring of phenanthrene in solution. The desorption experiments further suggested that the bonding of phenanthrene adsorption was strengthened in the presence of Pb²⁺ and that a larger proportion of adsorbed phenanthrene remained on the soils (residual fraction) even after sequential methanol extractions. Further spectroscopic analyses and surface characterization are required to provide direct evidence of the formation and relative significance of cation-π bond for phenanthrene adsorption.     

Silver-modified clinoptilolite for the removal of Escherichia coli and heavy metals from aqueous solutions

This paper investigates the potential of using the silver antibacterial properties combined with the metal ion exchange characteristics of silver-modified clinoptilolite to produce a treatment system capable of removing both contaminants from aqueous streams. The results have shown that silver-modified clinoptilolite is capable of completely eliminating Escherichia coli after 30-min contact time demonstrating its effectiveness as a disinfectant. Systems containing both E. coli and metals exhibited 100 % E. coli reduction after 15-min contact time and maximum metal adsorption removal efficiencies of 97, 98, and 99 % for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ respectively after 60 min; 0.182–0.266 mg/g of metal ions were adsorbed by the zeolites in the single- and mixed-metal-containing solutions. Nonmodified clinoptilolite showed no antibacterial properties. This study demonstrated that silver-modified clinoptilolite exhibited high disinfection and heavy metal removal efficiencies and consequently could provide an effective combined treatment system for the removal of E. coli and metals from contaminated water streams.     

The microbiota of an unpolluted calcareous soil faces up chlorophenols: Evidences of resistant strains with potential for bioremediation

To highlight the effects of a variety of chlorophenols (CP) in relation to the response of an indigenous bacterial community, an agricultural Mediterranean calcareous soil has been studied in microcosms incubated under controlled laboratory conditions. Soil samples were artificially polluted with 2-monochlorophenol (MCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP), at concentrations ranging from 0.1 up to 5000 mg kg⁻¹. Both activity and composition of the microbial community were assessed during several weeks, respectively, by respirometric methods and PCR-DGGE analysis of extracted DNA and RNA. Significant decreases in soil respirometric values and changes in the bacterial community composition were observed at concentrations above 1000 mg kg⁻¹ MCP and TCP, and above 100 mg kg⁻¹ PCP. However, the persistence of several active bacterial populations in soil microcosms contaminated with high concentration of CP, as indicated by DGGE fingerprints, suggested the capacity of these native bacteria to survive in the presence of the pollutants, even without a previous adaptation or contact with them.The isolation of potential CP degraders was attempted by culture plating from microcosms incubated with high CP concentrations. Twenty-three different isolates were screened for their resistance to TCP and PCP. The most resistant isolates were identified as Kocuria palustris, Lysobacter gummosus, Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas putida, according to 16S rRNA gene homology. In addition, these four isolates also showed the capacity to reduce the concentration of TCP and PCP from 15% to 30% after 5 d of incubation in laboratory assays (initial pollutant concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹). Isolate ITP29, which could be a novel species of Bacillus, has been revealed as the first known member in this bacterial group with potential for CP bioremediation applications, usually wide-spread in the soil natural communities, which has not been reported to date as a CP degrader.     

Microbial community responses to bioremediation treatments for the mitigation of low-dose anthracene in marine coastal sediments of Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia)

Purpose

The main goals of this study were to investigate (1) the behavior of microbial communities in response to low-dose bioavailable anthracene addition in lightly contaminated sediment from Bizerte Lagoon and (2) the effects of bioremediation treatments on microbial biomass, activity, and community structure.

Methods

Sediment microcosms amended with 1 ppm anthracene were incubated in triplicate during 30 days. Biostimulation (addition of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer) and bioaugmentation (inoculation of a hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium) were used as bioremediation treatments. Bacterial biomass was estimated using flow cytometry. Sediment oxygen consumption was measured with oxygen microelectrodes. Bacterial community structure was assessed by molecular fingerprints (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism; T-RFLP) analysis.

Results

Anthracene contamination resulted in a significant reduction of bacterial abundance with an impact on cell integrity. Concomitantly, sediment oxygen consumption was strongly inhibited. Correspondence analysis on T-RFLP data indicated that bacterial community structures from anthracene-contaminated microcosms were different from that of the control. Interestingly, the changes observed in microbial biomass, structure, and activities as a result of anthracene contamination were not alleviated even with the use of biostimulation and combination of biostimulation and bioaugmentation strategy for anthracene bioremediation. Nevertheless, both treatment methods resulted in different community structures relative to the contaminated and control microcosms with the appearance of distinct populations.

Conclusion

Anthracene spiking severely affected microbial communities, suggesting dominance of nontolerant populations in this lightly-contaminated sediment. Although biostimulation and/or bioaugmentation treatments did not alleviate the anthracene toxic effects, the changes observed in microbial population and structure suggest that the proposed treatments might be promising to promote bacterial growth. Further works are still required to propose a more efficient strategy to stimulate biodegradation that takes into account the complex interactions between species for resource access.     

原位帽封材料对水体中Pb(Ⅱ)与Cd(Ⅱ)静态吸附

用无纺布包裹珊瑚和丙烯酸树脂制成帽封材料,将底泥中重金属离子原位固定的同时吸附水体中的重金属离子pb2和Cd2.通过红外光谱,电镜扫描和火焰原子吸收仪器来分析该帽封材料的吸附性能.通过改变pH值,吸附剂投放量来检测其吸附效果.结果表明,该帽封材料在pH等于5的时候,Cd2最大吸附量达到434.67 mg/g,pb2+最大吸附量达到524.27 mg/g.pH和吸附剂量保持不变,随着底物浓度增加吸附量也增加;电镜扫描图和红外光谱图表明,该材料能很好地吸附重金属离子.     

Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters using dendrimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Dendrimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for heavy metal ion removal from wastewaters were developed. Triazole dendrimers (TD) were built directly onto the carbon nanotube surface by successive click chemistry reactions affording the zero- and first-generation dendrimer-functionalized MWCNT (MWCNT-TD1 and MWCNT-TD2). The Moedritzer-Irani reaction carried out on the amino groups present on the MWCNT-TD2 sample gave the corresponding α-aminophosphonate nanosystem MWCNT-TD2P. Both MWCNT-TD2 and MWCNT-TD2P nanosystems have been characterized by physical, chemical, and morphological analyses. Their chelating abilities towards the toxic metal ions Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Ni²⁺ and the harmless Ca²⁺ ion have been experimentally evaluated in the two different sets of experiments and at the salt concentrations of 1 mg/mL or 1 μg/mL by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of these studies pointed out the interesting chelating behavior for the phosphonated nanosystem towards the Hg²⁺ ion. The complexation mode of the best chelating system MWCNT-TD2P with mercury was investigated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, suggesting a chelation mechanism involving the two oxygen atoms of the phosphate group. The synthesized dendrimers, supported on the multi-walled carbon nanotubes, have shown the potential to be used for the selective toxic metal ion removal and recovery.     

Effects of pH,initial Pb2+ concentration,and polyculture on lead remediation by three duckweed species

Various geographical duckweed isolates have been developed for phytoremediation of lead. The Pb²⁺ removal efficiency of Lemna aequinoctialis, Landoltia punctata, and Spirodela polyrhiza was investigated in monoculture and polyculture at different levels of pH and initial Pb²⁺ concentrations. L. aequinoctialis was not sensitive to the tested pH but significantly affected by initial Pb²⁺ concentration, whereas synergistic effect of pH and initial Pb²⁺ concentration on removal efficiency of L. punctata and S. polyrhiza was found. Although the majority of polycultures showed median removal efficiency as compared to respective monocultures, some of the polycultures achieved higher Pb²⁺ removal efficiencies and can promote population to remove Pb²⁺. Besides, the three duckweed strains could be potential candidates for Pb²⁺ remediation as compared to previous reports. Conclusively, this study provides useful references for future large-scale duckweed phytoremediation.