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Uranium attenuation from tailing waters by floating macrophyte Lemna gibba L.

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Uranium in the Aquatic Environment

Abstract

Biosorption of uranium from mine tailing waters by floating macrophyte Lemna gibba L. was investigated in nutrition solutions. Changes in pH (from average 7.0 to 5.5), speciation and removal of U from the solutions and accumulation in the plant directly corresponded to specific growth rate, Fe and PO4 speciation. Macrophytes (e.g. Lemna sp.) are reported to produce a range of 5-l000µg kg-1 day-1 dry biomass of organic compounds particularly oxalic acids and proteins which are triggered by Fe, or PO4 deficiency. Modelling predicts specation change of Fe and PO4, and U-oxalic comlexation which influence U speciation and its bioavailability.

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© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Mkandawire, M., Dudel, G.E. (2002). Uranium attenuation from tailing waters by floating macrophyte Lemna gibba L.. In: Merkel, B.J., Planer-Friedrich, B., Wolkersdorfer, C. (eds) Uranium in the Aquatic Environment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55668-5_73

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55668-5_73

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62877-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-55668-5

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