Journal Article

Uptake of ferrocyanide in willow and poplar trees in a long term greenhouse experiment

Dimitrova, Tsvetelina, Freese, Dirk, Repmann, Frank, Raab, Thomas

2015

Overview

Phytoremediation of sites contaminated with iron cyanides can be performed using poplar and willow trees. Poplar and willow trees were grown in potting substrate spiked with ferrocyanide concentrations of up to 2,000 mg kg⁻¹for 4 and 8 weeks respectively. Soil solution and leaf tissue of different age were sampled for total cyanide analysis every week. Chlorophyll content in the leaves was determined to quantify cyanide toxicity. Results showed that cyanide in the soil solution of spiked soils differed between treatments and on weekly basis and ranged from 0.5 to 1,200 mg l⁻¹. The maximum cyanide content in willow and poplar leaves was 518 mg kg⁻¹fresh weight (FW) and 148 mg kg⁻¹FW respectively. Cyanide accumulated in the leaves increased linearly with increasing cyanide concentration in the soil solution. On the long term, significantly more cyanide was accumulated in old leaf tissue than in young tissue. Chlorophyll content in poplar decreased linearly with increasing cyanide in the soil solution and in leaf tissue, and over time. The inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value for poplars after 4 weeks of exposure was 173 mg l⁻¹and for willow after 8 weeks of exposure—768 mg l⁻¹. Results show that willows tolerate much more cyanide and over a longer period than poplars, making them very appropriate for remediating sites highly contaminated with iron cyanides.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Analysis / Biodegradation, Environmental / Chlorophyll / Chlorophyll - metabolism / Chlorophylls / Contamination / Cyanides / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecology / Ecotoxicology / Environment / Environmental Management / Ferrocyanides - metabolism / Ferrocyanides - toxicity / greenhouse experimentation / inhibitory concentration 50 / Iron compounds / Iron cyanides / Leaves / Phytoremediation / Plant Leaves - metabolism / Plant tissues / Poplar / Populus - metabolism / Populus - toxicity / Salix - metabolism / Salix - toxicity / Seasons / soil / Soil (material) / Soil Pollutants - metabolism / Soil Pollutants - toxicity / Soil solution / Soils / toxicity / Trees / Trees - metabolism / Trees - toxicity / Willow / Willow trees