Adsorption of Eu(III) onto Roots of Water Hyacinth

The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has drawn attention as a plant capable of removing pollutants, including toxic metals, from water. We are interested in the capacity of the water hyacinth to remediate aquatic environments that have been contaminated with the lanthanide metal, europium (Eu(I...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 1999-05, Vol.33 (9), p.1439-1443
Main Authors: Kelley, Colleen, Mielke, Randall E, Dimaquibo, Darryl, Curtis, Abigale J, DeWitt, Jane G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectroscopy
Adsorption
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Applied sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Biological treatment of waters
Bioremediation
Biotechnology
Chemical reactions
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi
Eichhornia crassipes
Environment and pollution
Europium
Exact sciences and technology
Flowers & plants
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydration
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Industrial wastewaters
Oxygen
phytoremediation
Plants (botany)
pollutants
Pollution
Remediation
Scanning electron microscopy
Wastewaters
Water pollution
Water treatment and pollution
X ray spectroscopy
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Summary:The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has drawn attention as a plant capable of removing pollutants, including toxic metals, from water. We are interested in the capacity of the water hyacinth to remediate aquatic environments that have been contaminated with the lanthanide metal, europium (Eu(III)). Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) we have been able to determine that Eu(III) is adsorbed onto the surface of the roots from water and that the highest concentration of Eu(III) is on the root hairs. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques were used to speciate the Eu(III) adsorbed onto the surface of the roots. The XAS data for Eu-contaminated water hyacinth roots provides evidence of a Eu−oxygen environment and establishes that Eu(III) is coordinated to 10−11 oxygen atoms at a distance of 2.44 Å. This likely involves binding of Eu(III) to the root via carboxylate groups and hydration of Eu(III) at the root surface.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es9807789