Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of organic acids in assisted phytoremediation processes of salt marsh sediments

  • Wetland Restoration
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Some plants have high ability to absorb heavy metals in high concentrations. In this study, Spartina maritima was tested in conjunction with low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOA), in order to evaluate the possible use of this plant in phytoremediation processes in salt marshes. Three different LMWOA (citric acid, malic acid and acetic acid) were applied to contaminated intact cores of S. maritima colonized sediment and several heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni) were analyzed in sediment and plant parts. Acetic acid application proved to be the most efficient, enhancing greatly the uptake of all metals analyzed. Citric acid also showed good results, while malic acid proved to be very inefficient in most of the cases. The highest enhancement was observed for Cr with a 10-fold increase of the uptake upon application of acetic acid, while improving the Pb uptake proved to be the most difficult, probably due to its low solubility.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahumada, I., J. Mendoza, P. Escudero & A. Loreto, 2001. Effect of acetate, citrate, and lactate incorporation on distribution of Cd and Cu chemical forms in soil. Communications in soil science and plant analysis 32: 771–785.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, R. J., 1991. Cr cycling in soils and water: links, gaps and methods. Environmental Health Perspectives 92: 17–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, P. F., M. McLaughlin, G. Cozens, D. Stevens, G. Owens & H. South, 2003. Plant uptake of C-14-EDTA, C-14-Citrate, and C-14-Histidine from chelator-buffered and conventional hydroponic solutions. Plant and Soil 253: 311–319.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bluskov, S., J. Arocena, O. Omotoso & J. Young, 2005. Uptake, distribution, and speciation of chromium in Brassica Juncea. International Journal of Phytoremediation 7: 153–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caçador, I., M. Caetano, B. Duarte & C. Vale, 2009. Stock and losses of trace metals from salt marsh plants. Marine Environmental Research 67: 75–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caçador, I., S. Tibério & H. Cabral, 2007. Species zonation in Corroios salt marsh in the Tagus estuary (Portugal) and its dynamics in the past fifty years. Hydrobiologia 587: 205–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caçador, I., C. Vale & F. Catarino, 2000. Seasonal variation of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd concentrations in the root–sediment system of Spartina maritima and Halimione portulacoides from Tagus estuary salt marshes. Marine Environmental Research 49: 279–290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., Q. Lin, Y. Luo, Y. He, S. Zhen, Y. Yu, G. Tian & M. Wong, 2003. The role of citric acid on the phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil. Chemosphere 50: 507–811.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, M. & M. Otte, 1997. Organism-induced accumulation of Fe, Zn and AS in wetland soils. Environmental Pollution 96: 1–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du Laing, G., J. Rinklebe, B. Vandecasteele, E. Meers & F. Tack, 2009. Heavy metal mobility and availability in estuarine and riverine floodplain soils and sediments: a review. Science of Total Environment 407: 3972–3985.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duarte, B., M. Delgado & I. Caçador, 2007. The role of citric acid in cadmium and nickel uptake and translocation, in Halimione portulacoides. Chemosphere 69: 836–840.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duarte, B., P. Raposo & I. Caçador, 2009. Spartina maritima rhizosediment extracellular enzymatic activity (EEA) and its role on organic matter decomposition and metal speciation processes. Marine Ecology 30: 65–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duarte, B., R. Reboreda & I. Caçador, 2008. Seasonal variation of Extracellular Enzymatic Activity (EEA) and its influence on metal speciation in a polluted salt marsh. Chemosphere 73: 1056–1063.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, F., X. Q. Shan, J. Zhang, Y. N. Xie, Z. G. Pei, S. Z. Zhang, Y. G. Zhu & B. Wen, 2005. Organic acids promote the uptake of lanthanum by barley roots. New Phytologist 165: 481–492.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, F., X. Q. Shan, S. B. Zang & G. Owens, 2006. Enhanced Cd accumulation in maize roots—the impact of organic acids. Plant and Soil 289: 355–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, D. L. & M. L. Otte, 2004. Influence of Typha latifolia and fertilization on metal mobility in two different Pb Zn mine tailing types. Science of Total Environment 333: 9–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. L., 1998. Organic acids in the rhizosphere—a critical review. Plant and Soil 205: 25–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner, H., 1995. Mineral Nutrition in Higher Plants, 2nd ed. Academic Press Limited, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nascimento, C., 2006. Organic acids effects on desorption of heavy metals from a contaminated soil. Scientia Agricola 63: 276–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nor, M. & H. Cheng, 1986. Chemical speciation and bioavailability of Cu: uptake and accumulation by Eichornia. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 5: 941–947.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, D., J. Pedler, Z. Ahnstrom & M. Resketo, 2001. Reevaluating the free-ion activity model of trace metal toxicity toward higher plants: experimental evidence with copper and zinc. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20: 899–906.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reboreda, R. & I. Caçador, 2007a. Halophyte vegetation influences in salt marsh retention capacity for heavy metals. Environmental Pollution 146: 147–154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reboreda, R. & I. Caçador, 2007b. Cu, Zn and Pb speciation in salt marsh sediments colonized by Halimione portulacoides and Spartina maritima. Chemosphere 69: 1655–1661.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwab, A., D. Zhu & M. Banks, 2008. Influence of organic acids on the transport of heavy metals in soil. Chemosphere 72: 986–994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, S., S. Prakash & M. Srivastava, 1999. Chromium mobilization and plant availabity—the impact of organic complexing ligands. Plant and Soil 212: 203–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundby, B., C. Vale, I. Caçador, F. Catarino, M. J. Madureira & M. Caetano, 1998. Metal-rich concretions on the roots of salt marsh plants: mechanism and rate of formation. Limnology and Oceanography 43: 245–252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier, A., 1979. Sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of particulate trace metals. Anal. Chem. 51: 844–851.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, C. R., S. A. Macko, I. C. Anderson & E. A. Canuel, 2001. Tracking the fate of a high concentration groundwater nitrate plume through a fringing marsh: a combined groundwater tracer and in situ isotope enrichment study. Limnology and Oceanography 46: 1977–1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valiela, I., M. Cole, J. McClelland, J. Cebrian & S. B. Joye, 2000. Role of salt marshes as part of coastal landscapes. In Weinstein, M. P. & D. A. Kreeger (eds), Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan, H., X. Q. Shan, T. Liu, Y. Xie, B. Wen, S. Zhang, F. Han & M. van Genuchten, 2007. Organic acids enhance the uptake of Pb by wheat roots. Planta 225: 1483–1494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weis, J. & P. Weis, 2004. Metal uptake, transport and release by wetland plants: implications for phytoremediation and restoration. Environmental International 30: 685–700.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Oceanografia, Instituto de Oceanografia, Campo Grande, 1749-1016, Lisbon, Portugal

    B. Duarte, J. Freitas & I. Caçador

Authors
  1. B. Duarte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Freitas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Caçador
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Duarte.

Additional information

Guest editors: Dominik Zak, Robert McInnes, Jörg Gelbrecht / Restoration, biogeochemistry and ecological services of wetlands

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Duarte, B., Freitas, J. & Caçador, I. The role of organic acids in assisted phytoremediation processes of salt marsh sediments. Hydrobiologia 674, 169–177 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0731-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0731-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation