Arbuscular mycorrhizas contribute to phytostabilization of uranium in uranium mining tailings

Zhu

Journal of Environmental Sciences

et al. 2014

Self Cite

a b s t r a c tA pot experiment was conducted to investigate the feasibility of growing energy sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in three different metal mine tailings (Cu, Sn and Pb/Zn tailings) amended with uncontaminated soil at different mixing ratios. The results indicated that sugarcane was highly tolerant to tailing environments. Amendments of 20% soil to Sn tailings and 30% soil to Cu tailings could increase the biomass of cane-stem for use as the raw material for bioethanol production. Heavy metals were mostly retained in roots, which indicated that sugarcane was useful for the stabilization of the tailings. Bagasse and juice, as the most valuable parts to produce bioethanol, only accounted for 0.6%-3% and 0.6%-7% of the total metal content. Our study supported the potential use of sugarcane for tailing phytostabilization and bioenergy production.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Growth and metal uptake of energy sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in different metal mine tailings with soil amendments

Zhu

Journal of Environmental Sciences

et al. 2014

Self Cite

“…Experimental work to address issue (1) includes testing of inoculation and colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi as a possible means of increasing crop uptake. Recent studies in China on UMT showed AM fungi to increase root uptake of U, but to also decrease translocation to shoots (Chen et al, 2008). This situation is good from a perspective of a lower concentration of U in the aboveground tissue being incorporated into the food chain by grazing animals, but bad in terms of phytoextraction of U from the substrate tailings.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeochemical aspects of uranium mineralization, mining, milling, and remediation

Campbell¹,

Gallegos²,

Landa

2015

Applied Geochemistry

aspects of uranium mineralization, mining, milling, and remediation" (2014 U is overwhelmingly the most abundant at greater than 99% of the total mass of U. Prior to the 1940s, U was predominantly used as a coloring agent, and U-bearing ores were mined mainly for their radium (Ra) and/or vanadium (V) content; the bulk of the U was discarded with the tailings (Finch et al., 1972). Once nuclear fission was discovered, the economic importance of U increased greatly. The mining and milling of U-bearing ores is the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle, and the contact of residual waste with natural water is a potential source of contamination of U and associated elements to the environment. Uranium is mined by three basic methods: surface (open pit), underground, and solution mining (in situ leaching or in situ recovery), depending on the deposit grade, size, location, geology and economic considerations (Abdelouas, 2006). Solid wastes at U mill tailings (UMT) sites can include both standard tailings (i.e., leached ore rock residues) and solids generated on site by waste treatment processes. The latter can include sludge or ''mud'' from neutralization of acidic mine/mill effluents, containing Fe and a range of coprecipitated constituents, or barium sulfate precipitates that selectively remove Ra (e.g., Carvalho et al., 2007). In this chapter, we review the hydrometallurgical processes by which U is extracted from ore, the biogeochemical processes that can affect the fate and transport of U and associated elements in the environment, and possible remediation strategies for site closure and aquifer restoration. This paper represents the fourth in a series of review papers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on geochemical aspects of UMT management that span more than three decades. The first paper (Landa, 1980) in this series is a primer on the nature of tailings and radionuclide mobilization from them. The second paper (Landa, 1999) includes coverage of research carried out under the U.S. Department of Energy's Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program (UMTRA). The third paper (Landa, 2004) reflects the increased focus of researchers on biotic effects in UMT environs. This paper expands the focus to U mining, milling, and remedial actions, and includes extensive coverage of the increasingly important alkaline in situ recovery and groundwater restoration.Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Archives of Environmental Protection

“…effi ciency of heavy fractions removal increased 15 times in comparison with control without AM. An important protective mechanism that enables plants to survive in an environment contaminated with heavy metals is immobilisation of metals within the mycelium and inhibition of their movement to plant tissues (Bradley et al 1982, Dueck et al 1986, Killham and Firestone 1983, Heggo et al 1990, Gucwa-Przepiora et al 2007, Chen et al 2008, Miransari 2011 Limitation of the metal assimilation by the roots Another defence mechanism is to limit the metal assimilation from the environment by the roots. Literature data (Driouich et al 2007, Guo et al 2009, Cai et al 2011, Miransari 2011, Meier et al 2012 indicate that in an environment contaminated with heavy metals plant roots secrete a number of substances that can bind ions and limit their assimilation by plants.…”

Section: Mycorrhizaementioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of stress avoidance and tolerance by plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals

Jutsz¹,

Gnida²

2015

Heavy metal pollution of soil is a signifi cant environmental problem and has a negative impact on human health and agriculture. Phytoremediation can be an alternative environmental treatment technology, using the natural ability of plants to take up and accumulate pollutants or transform them. Proper development of plants in contaminated areas (e.g. heavy metals) requires them to generate the appropriate protective mechanisms against the toxic effects of these pollutants. This paper presents an overview of the physiological mechanisms of stress avoidance and tolerance by plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals.Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/11/18 8:01 PM