Heavy metals distribution in Eucalyptus tree in 30 years old reclaimed overburden dumps

• Main Authors: Bandyopadhyay, Sneha, Maiti, Subodh Kumar
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bark; Coal mines; Cobalt; Copper; Eucalyptus; Heavy metals; Lead; Manganese; Metals; Mine reclamation; Open pit mining; Overburden; Phytoremediation; Stabilization; Zinc
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.5096499

Opencast coal mining invariably generates large amount of metal rich solid waste (mine spoil that stored as overburden dump) which is reclaimed by fast growing, woody tree species. These tree species act as potential candidate for the clean and green technology for stabilization of overburden dump i.e. phytoremediation. Aims of the present study are i) to determine the variation in concentration of metals (Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co) in reclaimed overburden dumps of 30 years age (RMS30) (Jharia coal field, Jharkhand, India) and compared with control site, ii) to evaluate the differential distribution of metals in different tree tissues (leaf, stem bark, stem wood, root bark, root wood) of Eucalyptus hybrid growing on the reclaimed site. Concentration of pseudo-total metals Zn, Mn, Cu and Co in RMS30 was 1.09, 1.63, 1.19 and 5 times higher, respectively, than control soil (CS). Pseudo-total and available form (DTPA-extractable) of metals were higher in RMS30 by 109-508% and 108-375% respectively, as compared to CS. In Eucalyptus hybrid trees, Mn and Zn significantly higher (p< 0.05) in leaf tissues, Cu and Co significantly higher (p< 0.05) in root wood. In tree tissues growing on RMS30, the heavy metal concentration was higher by 1.12-105 times than CS. In the present study determination of biological indices indicates the varied potentiality of metal uptake in different tree tissues. This study suggests that Eucalyptus hybrid could be used for phytoextraction of Mn (BCF>1; TFleaf, TFSB>1) and phyto-stabilization of Cu (BCF>1; TFleaf, TFSB, TFSW