Accumulation of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and total P from synthetic stormwater in 30 bioretention plants

The uptake and distribution of four heavy metals, including copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), and those of total phosphorus (TP) in 30 plants in North China were investigated through pot trial experiments. Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals or TP were associated with plant species, tissues, metal elements and pollutant loading. The highest amount of heavy metal and TP accumulation was found in the whole plants of Hylotelephium erythrostictum (Miq.) H. Ohba (C1) and Chlorophytum laxum R. Br. (L4), respectively. Considering the biological concentration factor, translocation factor, retention factor and biomass indices, C1 is the suitable plant for Cd and Cu uptake, whereas Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers (L3) and Viola verecunda A. Gray (V1) are the suitable plants for Pb removal. Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaetn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. (S1) and L4 can be chosen for Zn and TP removal, respectively. Cluster analysis was applied to select suitable plants for heavy metal and TP removal. Results showed that C1, L4 and Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng (G1) have a good capability of accumulating heavy metals and TP. Results demonstrated that the plant species rather than the families considerably influenced the accumulation of pollutants.