The removal of selected metals by duckweed (Lemna minor) and parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) from a simulated aqueous environment contaminated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) and copper sulfate was studied in a controlled laboratory experiment. The duckweed and parrotfeather’s tissues were analyzed to evaluate the removal of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) from CCA contaminated water (125 mg/L Cu, 220 mg/L Cr, and 205 mg/L As) and from copper sulfate contaminated water (60 mg/L Cu) over a 7 day period. The vigor of the plants was also recorded during this period. The results showed that the duckweed and parrotfeather both removed the metals from the water in each experiment. For the CCA contaminated water study, duckweed removed approximately 60% of each metal from solution while parrotfeather removed approximately 45% of each metal. For the copper contaminated water study, duckweed removed approximately 85% of the copper concentration from solution while parrotfeather removed approximately 77% copper from solution. As for the vigor of the plants in the CCA study, duckweed remained rather healthy throughout most of this study. Parrotfeather sharply declined in vigor after two days into experiment. In the copper study, both plants remained fairly healthy through the duration of the experiment.

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