Fava Beans (Vicia Faba L.) Phytosorption of Pb2+ Ions from its Aqueous Solutions

Environmental pollution caused by toxic contaminants specially heavy metals is a remarkable issue which directly related to all human activities and mainly has negative effects on human health. Bioremediation is one of the reliable green techniques used for the removal of contaminants form ecosystems. In particular, phytoremediation method is considered as one of the potential approaches for the removal of heavy metals such as the toxic lead metal from environment. We have designed a simple experiment utilized for the removal of lead metal from its solutions. In this phytosorption (biosorption) technique, a dried fava beans powder (Vicia faba L.) was used to take up the lead ions (Pb2+) from their solutions. It was found that the fava beans biomass have removed up to 96.6% of the lead ions from lead nitrate solutions prepared in different concentrations.