Abstract
The purpose of phytoremediation is the removal of contaminants by plants that grow in soils with high levels of specific contamination. The technological implementation of lead phytoremediation depends on the understanding of tolerance and growth phenomena of the plant in contaminated soil, uptake and translocation of this element and its accumulation in aerial foliage of the plant. This work provides results about diffusive transfer of lead across the xylem towards leaf blade (or lamina) of Brassica napus using a 1-dimension model that assumes Fick's Second Law. It uses mapping data of Pb concentrations measured by synchrotron radiation micro x-ray fluorescence in order to calculate the diffusion coefficient in soft tissue of leaves. The diffusion equation is solved for a flat leaf geometric model and the solution is fitted to experimental values of Pb concentrations of equivalent leaves, harvested from the same plant in progressive times of its growing cycle. The results of the diffusion coefficient were calculated in a zone (∼600 μm) outside the leaf xylem, where the Pb concentration profile determines a well-defined gradient. These results are original and provide a contribution to understand the dynamics of Pb retention in leaves.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.