Detoxification of cyanide by woody plants.
Vascular plants possess an enzyme system that detoxifies cyanide by converting it to the amino acid asparagine. This paper examines the potential of three woody plants from the Salicaceae family to degrade cyanide. Pre-rooted trees were grown in carefully designed bioreactors with aqueous solution spiked with potassium cyanide at 23.0 +/- 1 degree C for a maximum of 144 h. Cyanide concentrations ranged from 0.95 to 1.15 CN mg/L. Cyanide in water and in plant tissues was analyzed spectrophotometrically. Results from the investigation indicated that significant reduction of aqueous cyanide was found during the presence of plants in all treatments. Little amounts of applied cyanide were detected in the tissues of plants, mainly in roots and bottom stem. Cyanide remaining in tissues varied with the species of plants, despite similar periods of exposure. The data also indicated that photolysis, hydrolysis, and microbial degradation were not occurring and that volatilization was minimal. In conclusion, transport and metabolism of cyanide in plants is most likely.
Department of Environmental Science, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, 410128, PR China. yuxiaozhang@hotmail.com
Xiaozhang
X
Yu
Puhua
P
Zhou
Yunda
Y
Liu
Hao
H
Hu
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008954:Models, Biological; D032107:Populus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D032108:Salix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D013045:Species Specificity
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011190:Potassium Cyanide