Maghemite nanoparticles and ferrous sulfate for the stimulation of iron plaque formation and arsenic immobilization in Phragmites australis.
Wetland plants are considered as suitable biofilters for the removal of metal(loid)s and other contaminants from waters and wastewaters, due to their ability to accumulate and retain the contaminants in their roots. The iron plaque (IP) on the root surface influences the metal(loid)s retention processes. The stimulation of the IP development on roots of Phragmites australis by the external supply of a novel synthetic nanomaterial (nanomaghemite, nFe2O3) and FeSO4(alone or in combination) was studied. An hydroponic experiment was carried out to evaluate the iron plaque formation after external iron addition, as well as their influence on arsenic immobilization capacity. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were utilized to assess the distribution of Fe and As in the roots. The addition of Fe stimulated the generation of the IP, especially when FeSO4was involved. The nanoparticles alone were not efficient with regard to IP formation or As adsorption, even though they adhered to the root surface and did not enter into epithelial root cells. The combination of FeSO4and nFe2O3was the most effective treatment for improving the As removal capacity, and it seems to be an effective way to enhance the rhizofiltration potential of P. australis in As contaminated (waste)waters.
Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, CEBAS-CSIC, PO Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Department of Soil Biochemistry, IIAG-CSIC, Av. de Vigo s/n, 15780 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Tania
T
Pardo
Department of Environmental Geosciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czechia.
Domingo
D
Martínez-Fernández
Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, CEBAS-CSIC, PO Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Carlos
C
de la Fuente
Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, CEBAS-CSIC, PO Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Rafael
R
Clemente
Department of Environmental Geosciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czechia.
Michael
M
Komárek
Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, CEBAS-CSIC, PO Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: pbernal@cebas.csic.es.
M Pilar
MP
Bernal
D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D018527:Hydroponics; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D053833:Wetlands
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007501:Iron; D001151:Arsenic
Common reed; Iron (II); Nano-oxides; Nanomaghemite; Roots iron distribution; SEM analysis