title: The role of citric acid in cadmium and nickel uptake and translocation, in Halimione portulacoides.
abstract: Some plants have high ability to absorb heavy metals in high concentrations. In this study, Halimione portulacoides was tested in conjunction with citric acid, in order to evaluate the possible use of this plant in phytoremediation processes in salt marshes. Two different concentrations of chelator were used combined with two heavy metal concentrations. When 25microM of citric acid was applied, Cd uptake and translocation was enhanced while for Ni these processes were almost inhibited. Increasing citric acid concentration to 50microM, Ni absorption decreased by the roots while for Cd there was still an increase in root uptake. Analysing translocation with this concentration of chelator, a decreased metal content in the upper organs for both metals was observed. While for Cd an optimal concentration of 25microM of citric acid was observed for phytoremediative processes, for nickel neither concentrations of chelator showed advantages for application in this remediative method.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanography, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal. baduarte@fc.ul.pt
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caçador
mesh_terms: D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000254:growth & development; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D019343:Citric Acid; D009532:Nickel