Uptake and mobilization of heavy metals through phytoremediation process from native plants species growing on complex pollutants: Antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic pigments response

Abstract The aim of this work was to study the metal removal efficiency of Rumex dentatus, Ranunculus sceleratus, and Cammelina benghalensis which thrive on wastewater containing complex co-pollutants. Physico-chemical characteristic of wastewater showed high levels of biological oxygen demand (7136 mg kg −1), chemical oxygen demand (26324 mg kg −1), electric conductivity (1531 μ S cm −1), along with metals (mg kg −1) such as Fe (124.65 mg kg −1), Zn (56.33 mg kg −1), Cu (6.34 mg kg −1), Cd (9.02 mg kg −1), Mn (23.64 mg kg −1), Ni (6.04 mg kg −1), Pb (1.20 mg kg −1), Hg (1.08 mg kg −1), Cr (1.31 mg kg −1) and As (1.43 mg kg −1) along with complex co-pollutants. All three plants reduced more than