M. M. Srivastava

Cadmium mobilisation and plant availability – the impact of organic acids commonly exuded from roots

The present work highlights metal-organic acid interactions with special reference to their plant availability. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various organic (carboxylic and amino) acids on the uptake and translocation of root-absorbed Cd by maize (Zea mays) plants grown in sand and soil culture. Statistically significant increases in Cd accumulation from Cd-treated plants in the presence of increasing concentrations of organic acids, suggest the existence of Cd-organic acid interactions in the soil-plant system. In order to support the above hypothesis of formation of organically bound Cd, separate experiments were performed to synthesize and estimate its various forms viz. cationic, anionic and neutral. The chemical nature of the organically bound forms was ascertained by electrophoretic experiments. Amino acids have been found to be less effective in the mobilisation of cadmium compared to carboxylic acids. The results are discussed on the basis of the potential of organic acids to form complexes with Cd.

Saraca indica leaf powder for decontamination of Pb: removal, recovery, adsorbent characterization and equilibrium modeling

The present study explores the effectiveness of Saraca indica leaf powder, a surplus low value agricultural waste, in removing Pb ions from aqueous solution. The influence of pH, biomass dosage, contact time, particle size and metal concentration on the removal process were investigated. Batch studies indicated that maximum biosorption capacity for Pb was 95.37% at the pH 6.5. The sorption process followed the first order rate kinetics. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted best to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Morphological changes observed in scanning electron micrographs of untreated and metal treated biomass confirmed the phenomenon of biosorption. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of native and exhausted leaf powder confirmed lead biomass interactions responsible for sorption. Acid regeneration was tried for several cycles with a view to recover the sorbed metal ion and also to restore the sorbent to its original state. The findings showed that Saraca indica leaf powder can easily be envisaged as a new, vibrant, low cost biosorbent for metal clean up operations.

Studies on uptake of trivalent and hexavalent chromium by maize (Zea mays)

Pot culture experiments were carried out to study the uptake and translocation of chromium from irrigation water when supplied in its trivalent and hexavalent states to maize plants grown in soil and sand culture. The uptake of chromium was observed to increase with increase in the concentration for both oxidation states of chromium. For the root, the observed order of uptake was CrIII sand > CrVI sand > CrIII soil > CrVI soil, whereas in the lower shoot, upper shoot and fruit the order was CrVI sand > CrVI soil > CrIII sand > CrIII soil. Significantly high uptake of chromium by roots in the sand culture (CrIII treatment) is attributed to the effect of root exudates and degradation products on the mobilization of CrIII. In aerial parts of the plants a higher uptake was observed when the initial supply was CrVI. The trends observed are explained on the basis of the redox behaviour of chromium.

Study of mercury-selenium (HgSe) interactions and their impact on Hg uptake by the radish (Raphanus sativus) plant

Pot culture experiments were conducted to study the effects of selenite and selenate treatment (0.5-6.0 microg/ml) on the uptake and translocation of root-absorbed mercury (Hg) in radish plants irrigated with 2 and 5 microg/ml Hg in sand and soil culture. Statistically significant reductions in mercury uptake with increasing concentrations of selenium (Se) were observed. Both forms of selenium (selenite and selenate) were equally effective in reducing the mercury burden of the plant. The observed reduction in plant uptake of mercury is explained by the formation of an HgSe insoluble complex in the soil-root environment. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in dry matter yields with the various selenium treatments was found, suggesting that no selenium toxicity or salt injury occurred in the plants.

A study on the uptake of trivalent and hexavalent chromium by paddy (Oryza sativa) : possible chemical modifications in rhizosphere

The uptake and translocation of chromium by paddy (Oryza sativa L. Arbario) was studied using radiotracers. Chromium was supplied as Cr III and Cr VI through irrigation water and plants were grown in sand and soil culture. The uptake of chromium for both the oxidation states and culture types was found to increase more or less linearly with the increase in chromium concentration though with different slopes. The rate of increase of the uptake when compared to the increase in feed concentration indicates that the uptake by roots is mediated possibly through a passive mechanism. For a given concentration of feed, values of chromium in μgg−1 dry matter in shoot and grain did not vary significantly either for different oxidation states of feed chromium or culture type. The order of uptake for paddy shows a considerably different pattern when compared to onion, maize and groundnut. This has been qualitatively explained on the basis of the different chemistry of chromium in the rhizosphere of paddy. The amount of chromium translocated to grain was also considerably less compared to the other three crops.

Effect of selenite and selenate on plant uptake and translocation of mercury by tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)

Pot culture experiments containing sand and soil, at two levels of mercury (2 and 5 μg mL-1) added through irrigation with increasing supplementation of selenium (selenite and selenate) led to a decrease in the uptake of mercury by tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) plant. Both the forms of selenium (selenite and selenate) were found to be equally effective in reducing the mercury accumulation by plants. The observed reduction pattern of mercury accumulation in plant tissues has been discussed on the basis of the formation of insoluble HgSe complex in soil-root environment.

Plant uptake of fluoride in irrigation water by ladyfinger (Abelmorchus esculentus)

Because of suggestions that food is a rich source of fluoride to humans and the absence of permissible and upper limits of fluoride for irrigation water, plant uptake studies were conducted using fluoride-rich irrigation water. Ladyfinger was grown in sand and soil cultures for 18 wk and the accumulation of fluoride in various plant parts was studied. The potential for ingestion of fluoride by humans through this route was also considered. The percentage uptake was greater in sand-cultured plants than in soil-cultured plants. The root accumulates most of the fluoride supplied through irrigation water and the fruit accumulates the least. Up to 120 mg fluoride/litre of irrigation water did not harm the plants. The ingestion of fluoride by humans from plants irrigated with water containing 10 mg fluoride/litre would be 0.20 mg per 100 g ladyfinger.

Studies on mobilization of chromium with reference to its plant availability – Role of organic acids

Metal-organic acid interactions with special reference to their plant availability have been studied. The role of organic acids in the mobilization of Cr by converting it into labile organically bound form, enhancing its availability, is highlighted. Pot experiments are conducted to investigate the effect of various organic acids on the uptake and translocation of root absorbed trivalent and hexavalent chromium by maize (z. mays) plants grown in sand and soil culture. Statistically significant increases in chromium accumulation from CrIII-treated plants in the presence of increasing concentrations of organic acid suggest the existence of CrIII – organic acid interactions in the soil plant system. In order to support the above mentioned hypothesis of formation of organically bound CrIII in the presence of various organic acids (carboxylic and amino acids), separate experiments have been performed to synthesize and estimate its respective organically bound forms. Amendments with organic acids, however, do not appear to markedly affect chromium accumulation from CrVI treatment. The results are discussed on the basis of the potential of organic acids to form complexes with CrIII.

Studies on leaching of Cr and Ni from stainless steel utensils in certain acids and in some Indian drinks

Leachates of Cr and Ni from stainless steel utensils viz., frying pans, bowls and tumblers, have been investigated, by exposing the utensils to decinormal solutions of citric, tartaric and lactic acids and to some common Indian drinks. A comparison of observed results indicate that the complexation of metal ions with organic acid anions is most vital and metal leaching is largely a function of the availability of free anions. The intake of Cr and Ni by human beings has also been calculated.

Effect of organic acids on the availability of cadmium in wheat.

Abstract Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various organic (carboxylic and amino) acids on the uptake and translocation of root-absorbed cadmium by wheat (Triticum vulgare) plants grown in sand and soil culture. Statistically significant increases in cadmium accumulation from cadmium treated plants in the presence of increasing concentration of organic acids suggest the existence of Cd–organic acid interactions in the soil-plant system resulting into the formation of organically bound cadmium which is mobile and plant available. Separate experiments were performed to synthesise and estimate the various forms of organically bound cadmium. The chemical nature of the organically bound form was ascertained by electrophoretic experiments. Amino acids were less effective in the mobilisation of cadmium compared to carboxylic acids. The results are discussed on the basis of the potential of organic acids to form complexes with cadmium