Chelator-enhanced phytoextraction of copper and zinc by sunflower, Chinese cabbage, cattails and reeds

The phytoextraction of copper and zinc assisted by the chelators such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, diethylene triamino pentaacetic acid, ethylene diamine disuccinate and citric acid into sunflowers (Hh can act as effective cation exchangers. The negatively charged chelator complexes prevented binding to the cell walls of the roots and allowed complexes to enter the cells. Organic content contains fewer soil nutrients and has fewer negatively charged functional groups, such as carboxical, phenolical and hydroxyl; these adsorb negative free metal cations and reduce metal mobility, leading to less plant uptake. Regardless of different soils’ varying organic content, plant propagation ability can be listed in descending order as follows: cattails > reeds > sunflowers > Chinese cabbage. The mechanism of metal uptake was apoplastic transportation. Metal accumulation levels in different parts of plants are listed in descending order as follows: roots > stems > leaves. This is similar to the findings of most studies.

Keywords
Phytoextraction; Chelators; Heavy metals; Sunflower (Helianthus annuus); Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris); Cattail (Typha latifolia) and reed (Phragmites communis)