The Role of Mangroves and Nanomaterials in the Heavy Metals’ Decontamination Process

Abstract

Green Chemistry aims to make processes more efficient and create products that reduce environmental pollution. This chapter presents the results of the combined use of Rhizophora mangle (R. mangle) and nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) for cadmium (Cd) remediation in contaminated areas. Here, the phytoremediation process using a 40-ppm cadmium solution in combination with R. mangle and nZVI for 3 days was evaluated. We used 20 R. mangle samples with and without nZVI to assess the efficiency of the phytoremediation process for the removal of cadmium by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analytical measurements and confocal imaging. Translocation factors (TFs) were calculated. TF˂ 1 indicates that R. mangle does not act as a hyperaccumulator but as an excluder of metallic Cd. The data obtained in the project suggests that the interaction of nZVI with R. mangle is an effective way to enhance the translocation of the metal by its aerial parts without affecting the stomatal opening.