Göksel Akçin’s research while affiliated with Yıldız Technical University and other places

Various factor effect on removal of lead (II) by the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) were investigated. The plants were exposed to lead concentration ranging from 1 to 128 ppm. As the initial lead concentration increased, lead uptake was decreased. The uptake of lead was little effected by pH in the range of 4–8 but the effect of pH increased outside of this range. When the solution volume per plant was increased the total amount of lead uptake also increased. The effect of various concentration of EDTA on the lead uptake was examined. It was observed that removal of lead was decreased by increasing the concentration of EDTA. Stirring the solution increased removal of lead.

Heavy metals were analyzed in various samples of waste water from a metal plating factory in Istanbul. Chromium, copper and nickel uptake from industrial wastewater by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) at different dilution was examined by AAS and UV‐visible spectrophotometric methods. The results were statistically compared by t‐ ad F‐ tests. Since heavy metals are effectively removed, water hyacinth may be used for wastewater purification after dilution or as a step of wastewater treatment unit for industrial effluents under conditions in Turkey.

Zinc uptake by Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from zinc solution were examined in the pH range of 9.4 ‐ 10.02. 1 ppm and 40 L zinc chloride solution is used. During the experiment.at certain intervals, the pH values of zinc solutions were determined and samples of 50 ml were taken. At the end of the experiment. plants were harvested and prepared for analysis. Macro and micro nutrients at the plant materials and in samples were determined. It was also shown that zinc uptake by the plants was slower in strongly basic solutions and the plants were still survived.