Influence of phosphate and citric acid on the phytoextraction of As from contaminated soils

Abstract

The influence of phytoextraction in arsenic (As) contaminated soil on the phosphate and citric acid addition were investigated using Pteris vittata L. (Chinese brake fern). The As uptake in the fronds increased 85% in As-spiked soil when phosphate was added. The addition of citric acid for 2 weeks to the phosphate added soils resulted in the highest As uptake by 75% compared to only phosphate treatment. The Zn concentrations in fronds also increased 31-fold in phosphate added soils and 60-fold in 2-week citric acid added soils without phosphate treatment. The extractable arsenic species in the fern fronds are 71% of As (III) and 29% of As (V), respectively. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.