[Dixit, 3(8): August, 2014] ISSN: 2277-9655 Scientific Journal Impact Factor: 3.449 (ISRA), Impact Factor: 1.852 http: // www.ijesrt.com (C)International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology [228] IJESRT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES & RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY Relavant Approach to Assess the Performance of Dry-Biomass of Eichhornia Crassipes for Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions Archana Dixit 1 , Savita Dixit 2 C. S. Goswami 3 1 Research scholar, Department of Chemistry, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology,Bhopal,India. 2 Professor, Department of Chemistry, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal,India. 3Professor, Department of Chemistry, Kamal Radha Girls College, Gwalior, India. dixit.archana07@gmail.com Abstract Heavy metals are the major sources of pollution which are added regularly to our water sources. present paper is an attempt to evaluate the adsorption of heavy metals like Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) by the dry biomass of aquatic plants Eichhornia crassipes commonly called water hyacinth. Living water hyacinth plants have the capacity to absorb heavy metals from waste water. The present experimental study was conducted to assess the adsorption capacity of dry biomass of Eichhornia crassipes to compare and identify their potential to improve the water Quality by removing the impurities. The paper critically evaluates the water – purifying capacity of dry – biomass of free- floating macrophyte (E. crassipes). Manuscript will be helpful in showing the water purifying capacity of dry biomass of free floating macrophyte (E.crassipes) and also will evaluate the best results of adsorption shown in varied time period. Keywords - Plants, Dry biomass, E. crassipes, Heavy metals, adsorption, isotherm. Introduction Waste water is generated from residential and industrial day today activities but it must be treated before it is released into surface water bodies or to environment. So that it does not cause further pollution of water sources. Natural sources of water are depleting fast and are polluted due to industrialization and urbanization in a haphazard manner. The Potential toxic metal elements such as cadmium, chromium, lead, Copper, Zinc etc. are identified to cause health hazards in animals [1], [2] these heavy metals are reported to be toxic and found associated with the occurrence of several health effects. Heavy metals even at low concentrations can cause toxicity to humans and other forms of life, its adverse effects on human health are quite evident. Techniques presently in existence for removal of heavy metals from contaminated waters include: reverse osmosis, electro dialysis, ultra filtration, ion- exchange, chemical precipitation, phytoremediation, etc. However, all these methods have disadvantages like incomplete metal removal, high reagent and energy requirements, generation of toxic sludge or other waste products that require careful disposal. With increasing environmental awareness and legal constraints being imposed on the discharge of effluents, a need for cost–effective alternative technologies are essential. In this endeavor plant biomass can emerged as an option for developing economic and eco-friendly wastewater treatment through a process called biosorption. Materials and methods The present study was mainly concentrated upon adsorption of four heavy metals viz. chromium, Cadmium, lead and zinc by dry biomass E.crassipes for which the experiments are conducted. The plants of E.crassipes were taken from sahapura lake drainage basin. Macrophytes were washed with Milli-Q water to eliminate the remains of lake sediments and particulate matter, and then the plants are cut into pieces and sun dried. After being completely dried / dehydrated they are grinded into powder. The powder was grounded to pass through 2 mm sieve. The samples for analyzing various parameters were prepared by standard method