Abstract
In this study, leaf and soil samples were used as bio-monitors for different alkali and heavy metals at six different locations in Kyiv city. Using x–y plots of the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) data measured the discrepancy level in elemental composition between the different investigated areas; the correlation between the concentrations in tree leaves and the samples from the surrounding soils were investigated. While the concentration of essential mineral elements and metals was found to be similar in several leaf and soil samples, in other samples, their concentration spread up to more than one order of magnitude. The concentration of metals was found to be higher in soil samples than in leaves. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) data helped to further characterize both types of samples. The metal removal during the incineration of the leaves was investigated by coupling a thermo-gravimetric analyzer to an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (TGA-ICP-OES). The release of Cd, K, Na, Pb, and Zn during incineration at temperatures up to 960 °C was online monitored, and some insights were drawn about the behavior of such metals and the chemistry involved in the volatilization process.
Highlights
Plants and soils in urban areas can be used as biomonitors for pollution
Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA)-inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was successfully used as the hyphenated analytical technique
We report about the monitoring of different trace elements in six different sites in Kyiv city (Ukraine) by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
Summary
Plants and soils in urban areas can be used as biomonitors for pollution. In many studies, tree leaves were used to monitor the soil and air pollution of specific areas by metals and toxic heavy metals Air contamination of urban areas compared to rural ones can be quantified by analyzing unwashed leaves In this case, the concentrations of some elements might be higher than the natural background, because of the disposition from the surrounding atmosphere or the selective uptake through the tree roots. Particular types of plants, known as hyper-accumulators, can store a large amount of metals and heavy metals and can be used for the remediation of contaminated soils (Ali et al, 2013; Guo et al, 2018; Muthusaravanan et al, 2018; Sheoran et al, 2016; Tauqeer et al, 2016; Wan et al, 2016). The thermal treatment of the leaves as waste material was studied using a hyphenated technique by coupling a thermo-gravimetric analyzer to the ICP-OES instrument Using this online setup, the release of two alkali metals (Na, K) and three heavy metals (Cd, Zn, and Pb) was investigated
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