Phytoextraction potential of Manihot esculenta Crantz. (cassava) grown in mercury- and gold-containing biosolids and mine tailings

HJP Alcantara; AI Doronila; SD Kolev

Journal article

Phytoextraction potential of Manihot esculenta Crantz. (cassava) grown in mercury- and gold-containing biosolids and mine tailings

HJP Alcantara, AI Doronila, SD Kolev

Minerals Engineering | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2017.09.010

Abstract

The potential of Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava) to phytoextract Hg and Au from Hg- and Au-containing biosolids and mine tailings was successfully demonstrated for the first time. Removal of Hg by a hyperaccumulating plant species offers new options to clean up Hg-contaminated sites and at the same time harvest trace amounts of Au. Pre-rooted cassava cuttings with 5–7 nodes were grown in different combinations of biosolids-amended mine tailings to evaluate the best combination that will support optimum plant growth. The 75% biosolids – 25% mine tailings combination produced the best growth in cassava. Plant cuttings were also grown in hydroponics solutions amended with Hg and/or Au to det..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Augustine Doronila Author

Spas Kolev Author

Related Projects (1)

The pollution potential of mercury in legacy biosolids and possibilities for its minimization by phytoremediation and phytostabilization approaches

This project will develop: (1) new chemical analysis techniques to study the mercury fate in legacy biosolids which will lead to better unde..

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Melbourne Water Corporation and Stawell Gold Mines for their collaboration in this research and the Australian Leadership Awards for the scholarship of Hannah Joy Alcantara. This research was funded by the Australian Research Council and Melbourne Water Corporation through Linkage grant LP120200628.