The environment is becoming more and more contaminated, and using physicochemical processes to clean it up is quite expensive. Consequently, it is crucial to use plants as a technique to remove contaminants. The present study aims to use some plants as Helianthus annuusL, Phragmites australis and Cyperus to remove some metals Such as Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) from soil depending on their ability to absorb these heavy metals. This is achieved by cultivating the previous plant types in pots (capacity 2 kg) using three types of soil from three areas: Wadi Al-Shagb and Al- Sebiya belonging to Al-Nasr Mining Company in Aswan Governorate, which are reclaimed lands between the phosphate mines, the third soil is taken from Bahteem Agricultural Research Station in Qalyubia Governorate.
The plants were harvested after three periods.i.e,30,45 and 60 days from cultivation through bout 25 pots form each sample .
The ability of Lead and Chromium absorption by plants were evaluated using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy). The results revealed highest amount of Lead was found in Helianthus annuusL roots 29.80 (ppm) over 60 days, the lowest amount in Cyperus roots 3.56 (ppm) over 45 days, the highest amount of Chromium in Helianthus annuusL roots 45.60 (ppm) over 60 days, and the lowest amount in Helianthus annuusL roots 0.85 (ppm) over 30 days. The highest amount of Lead in the shoots of Cyperus 7.34 (ppm) over 60 days and the lowest amount in the shoots of Cyperus reached 2.22 (ppm) over 30 days, the highest amount of Chromium in the shoots of Cyperus 20.10 ( ppm) over 30 days and the lowest amount in Helianthus annuusL shoots 8.03 (ppm) over 30 days, also the percentage removal of the metals of the three soils in the range of 91.39 % − 97.11 % for Lead (Pb) and 89.32 % − 98.00 % for Chromium (Cr). Moreover, this study revealed that (Helianthus annuusL, and Cyperus) are the highest types of excessive accumulation and removal of Lead and Chromium, and they can be used to remove these elements from the old and newly reclaimed lands.
Keywords: Heavy metal; Removal; Plant; Soil; Lead; Chromium.