The recovery of platinum metals by the water hyacinth

Abstract
Model experiments on the recovery of Pt from solution by water plants were carried out, in particular using the free floating water hyacinth. This plant apparently removes Pt from nutrient solution. Preliminary experiments using a treated trade effluent demonstrated that plant species were able to remove the traces of Pt metals remaining in solution in the effluent. The possibility of the large scale use of such processes is discussed. The water hyacinth is a likely candidate for the biological treatment of effluent, and the background to its use is reviewed briefly.