title: Removal of Prussian blue from contaminated soil in the rhizosphere of cyanogenic plants.
abstract: The fate of radiolabeled cyanide in soil was investigated during exposure to cyanogenic plant species, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. P721) and flax (Linum usitassimum var. Omega-Gold), in fully-contained growth chambers. Labeled cyanide was subject to microbial transformation, assimilation by plant roots, incorporation and biodegradation in plant tissue. For this study, (14)C-labeled cyanide was added to soil, and distribution of (14)C activity was assessed before plant establishment and after harvest. After 3 months of plant growth, 7% of the (14)C-labeled cyanide was converted to (14)CO(2) with sorghum and 6% with flax, compared with only 2% conversion in unplanted soil. A small amount of unaltered cyanide was shown to be accumulated by the plants (approximately 140 mg cyanide/kg plant or <0.1% of the total). Results from this experiment demonstrate the potential of cyanogenic plants for use in phytoremediation of cyanide-contaminated soil.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Dong-Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Lee Yen
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: A Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: M Katherine
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005295:Ferrocyanides / Q000032:analysis*; D019597:Flax / Q000254:growth & development*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D027343:Rhizome / Q000254:growth & development; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D045868:Sorghum / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D005295:Ferrocyanides; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C000170:ferric ferrocyanide