T31 Environmental and Engineering Geology Division: Poster Session for Graduate and Undergraduate Students (Posters)

Sunday, 15 October 2023
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Hall B

THE COMBINED-USE OF PLANTS IN COMBATING HEAVY METAL POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Paper number: T31-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Industrial and mining activities have left a legacy of pollution and environmental problems that have necessitated the need for innovative corrective measures all over the world. These problems include widespread heavy metal pollution and climate change (global warming). One of the recent innovative solutions being researched is phytoremediation with value additions. Several plant species have already been identified as good hyperaccumulators of heavy metals and could be used for phytoremediation. These plants could also potentially be used to reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and combating climate change. The goal of this project is to identify plant species with high potential for phytoremediation of heavy metals and sequestering carbon in the soil. This dual use of plants to clean up heavy metal pollution and retain soil carbon is an innovative approach that addresses two major global challenges. To accomplish this goal plant and soil samples were collected in Kabwe, Kitwe and Chingola towns of Zambia near active and closed mines. Intact soils cores were collected around the sampled plants and used to quantify the levels of heavy metals and the carbon concentration in the soils. Heavy metal concentration in both soil and plant samples were quantified using X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) while carbon concentrations were quantified using spectrometers. Results so far show that Tithonia rotundifolia takes in more heavy metals than Lantana camara. Mostly Tithonia rotundifolia growing on mine-contaminated soils and tailing dumps accumulated lead and copper in concentrations greater than 1000 mg/kg. This project will help in the development of guidelines for implementing dual-use plant strategies and creation of a database for future research and application of a sustainable and cost-effective approach to addressing environmental contamination and climate change. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2107177.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 55, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-392434

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