Removal of Prussian blue from contaminated soil in the rhizosphere of cyanogenic plants

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 69; no. 9; pp. 1492 - 1498
• Main Authors: Kang, Dong-Hee, Hong, Lee Yen, Paul Schwab, A., Banks, M. Katherine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: analysis; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; bioremediation; Biotechnology; biotransformation; Contamination; Cyanide; cyanides; cyanogenic plants; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Ferrocyanides; Ferrocyanides - analysis; flax; Flax - growth & development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; grain sorghum; Groundwater; growth & development; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Linum; Linum usitatissimum; Miscellaneous; Phytoremediation; Plant Shoots; Plant Shoots - growth & development; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Prussian blue; Rhizome; Rhizome - growth & development; rhizosphere; Soil; Soil and sediments pollution; soil microorganisms; Soil Pollutants; Soil Pollutants - analysis; soil pollution; Sorghum; Sorghum - growth & development; Sorghum bicolor; Soil; Cyanide; Prussian blue; Groundwater; Contamination; Phytoremediation; Monocotyledones; Radiolabelling; In situ; Cyanides; Soil pollution; Industry; Linum usitatissimum; Rhizosphere; Sorghum bicolor; Linaceae; Decontamination; Gramineae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Water pollution; Bioremediation; Ground water
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.04.052

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, 14C-labeled cyanide was added to soil, and distribution of 14C activity was assessed before plant establishment and after harvest. After 3 months of plant growth, 7% of the 14C-labeled cyanide was converted to 14CO 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 (≈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.