title: The impact of humic acid on chromium phytoextraction by aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor.
abstract: Studies assessing chromium phytoextration from natural waters rarely consider potential implications of chromium speciation in the presence of ubiquitous humic substances. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of environmentally relevant concentration of humic acid (TOC = 10 mg L(-1)) on chromium speciation (Cr = 0.15 mg L(-1)) and consequently on phytoextraction by aquatic macrophyte duckweed Lemna minor. In absence of humic acid, only hexavalent chromium was present in water samples and easily taken up by L. minor. Chromium uptake resulted in a significant reduction of growth rate by 22% and decrease of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents by 48% and 43%, respectively. On the other hand, presence of humic acid significantly reduced chromium bioavailability (57% Cr uptake decrease) and consequently it did not cause any measurable effect to duckweed. Such effect was related to abiotic reduction of hexavalent chromium species to trivalent. Hence, findings of our study suggest that presence of humic acid and chromium speciation cannot be neglected during phytoextraction studies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 113 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: Gabriela.Kalcikova@fkkt.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kalčíková
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 113 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zupančič
authors.affiliation: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 111 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jemec
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 113 Večna pot, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Andreja Žgajnar
authors.initials: AŽ
authors.lastname: Gotvajn
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006812:Humic Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; D002734:Chlorophyll; C037184:chlorophyll b; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Aquatic plant; Bioremediation; Environmental factors; Metal speciation; Metal uptake