Removal of dissolved metals by plant tissue

Abstract

Various types of microbial biomass have been shown to adsorb metals dissolved in aqueous media. It has now been demonstrated that certain plant tissues are also effective for this type of adsorption process. In particular, tomato and tobacco roots harvested from field-grown plants were shown to adsorb Sr from an aqueous solution of SrCl₂. Distribution coefficients in excess of 550 were measured and the adsorption isotherms at 25°C could be fitted to Langmuir-type expressions. The bioadsorbent could be regenerated and metals recovered by either a reduction in the pH to less than 2.0 or by use of a concentrated chloride salt solution.