Abstract

RUIZ, Juan M. et al. Distribution and Efficiency of the Phytoextraction of Cadmium by Different Organic Chelates. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.4, pp.295-301. ISSN 2395-8030.

Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal that causes widespread environmental contamination, is toxic to living beings and therefore at present its decontamination is a major environmental concern. One decontamination method offering an alternative to traditional methods is phytoextraction, which can be aided by chelates via enhanced Cd bioavailability in soils. Different organic chelates (alternatives to ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, EDTA) were used: ethylene diamine disuccinate (EDDS), ammonium thiocyanate, citric acid, oxalic acid. Citric acid was used as a chelate because it improves the phytostability of Cd and, like EDDS, it is biodegradable and thus of low environmental impact. In this study we assess different organic chelates for their efficiency in Cd extraction, measuring the production of plant biomass as well as the distribution and concentration of Cd in chinese cabbage Brassica rapa L. cv. Onekilo, seeking an effective alternative to the application of EDTA.

Keywords : Brassica rapa; Cd distribution; Cd phytoaccumulation; EDDS.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )