Abstract

Phytoextraction is a method of phytoremediation using plants to clean up metal-contaminated soils. Recently, various chelating agents were used in this method to increase the bioavailability of metals in soils. Even though phytoextraction is an economic and environmentally friendly method, this cannot be applied in highly metal-contaminated areas because plants will not normally grow in such conditions. This research focuses on identifying chelating agents which are biodegradable and applicable to highly metal-contaminated areas. Copper (Cu) as a target metal and cysteine (Cys), histidine (His), citrate, malate, oxalate, succinate, and ethylenediamine (EDA) as biodegradable chelating agents were selected. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used as a comparative standard. Plants were grown on agar media containing various chelating agents with Cu to analyze the effect on root growth. Cys, His, and citrate strongly diminished the inhibitory effect of Cu on root growth of plants. The effect of oxalate was weak, and malate and succinate did not show significant effects. EDTA diminished and EDA promoted the inhibitory effects of Cu on root growth. These effects of chelating agents are correlated with Cu uptake into the roots. In conclusion, as biodegradable chelating agents, Cys, His, and citrate are good candidates for highly Cu-contaminated areas, while EDA can be useful in phytoextraction for Cu.

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