title: Biosorption of cesium-137 and strontium-90 by mucilaginous seeds of Ocimum basilicum.
abstract: Mucilaginous seeds of Ocimum basilicum were used in uptake studies with cesium-137 and strontium-90. Results showed that uptake was dependent on the structural integrity of the mucilage fibrils. Water imbibed seeds showed higher adsorption of both 137Cs and 90Sr in comparison to seeds pretreated with NaOH, HCl and Na-periodate solution. The uptake was pH dependent and while some divalent metal ions had no or little detrimental effect, the alkali metal ions Li+, Na+ and K+ decreased the uptake. The maximum adsorption capacity was 160 mg cesium g(-1) and 247 mg strontium g(-1) seed dry weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan 713 104, India.
authors.forename: Dipjyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maji
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: Sukalyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
mesh_terms: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism*; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes