Javier Rodríguez-Bocanegra

Bio: Javier Rodríguez-Bocanegra is an academic researcher from University of Barcelona. The author has contributed to research in topics: Phytoremediation & Bioconcentration. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 3 publications receiving 23 citations.

Assessment of heavy metal tolerance in two plant species growing in experimental disturbed polluted urban soil

Abstract: Urban soil, which is strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities, receives a major proportion of trace metal wastes. The aim of this work was to determine heavy metal concentration in (a) soil, to know the degree of the soil pollution; (b) roots and leaves of two plant species, Brassica juncea as an accumulator plant and Solanum lycopersicum as a crop plant; and (c) drainage water, to evaluate the heavy metal mobility. The study area is located in Sants, a neighborhood in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Thirty kilograms of two representative soil depths (0–15 and 15–40 cm) was sampled and subsequently mixed. The two studied species were cultivated for 3 weeks in greenhouse conditions, and all pots were irrigated with water weekly to field capacity with a nutrient solution (pH = 6.5). If not otherwise stated, given results are means ± standard deviation of four replicated pots each with a composite sample of 12 individual plants per treatment. X-ray fluorescence (FRX) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid soil extraction (DTPA) were used for total and available metal soil contents, respectively. Weekly cumulative drainage water of each pot was collected in polyethylene bottles and stored at 4 °C until analysis. The main pollutants are Cu, Pb, and Zn with topsoil total concentrations of approximately 1355, 2230, and 6239 mg kg−1, respectively. The same soil elements for available fractions were slightly elevated (9.6, 5.8, and 6.7% of total concentration). The concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the plants’ leaves are greater in B. juncea than in S. lycopersicum. Furthermore, they are greater in the roots than in leaves. The Pb concentrations in a crop plant exceeded the 0.10 mg kg−1 limit established for vegetables devoted for food in the European legislation. Unusually elevated concentrations of Pb (over 10 μg L−1) were detected in the drainage water. These values exceeded the acceptable toxic concentrations in waters, according to the Spanish legislation. The urban soil studied was highly contaminated by Cu, Pb, and Zn, and this pollution is more evident in the topsoil. A great part of these heavy metals was bioavailable for plants. Thus, the two plants (S. lycopersicum and B. juncea) had an ability to transport heavy metals from the roots to the shoots, especially for Zn. Great contents of heavy metals in the drainage water after the irrigation of plants were observed.

Translocation and accumulation of heavy metals in Ocimum basilicum L. plants grown in a mining-contaminated soil

Abstract: The evaluation of the ecotoxicity effects of some heavy metals on the plant growth and metal accumulation in Ocimum basilicum L. cultivated on unpolluted and polluted soils represented the objective of the present study. The basil aromatic herb was evaluated in a laboratory experiment using soil contaminated with Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, similar to the one from a mining area. The soils and different organs of the basil plants were analyzed, the total contents of the added elements being determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The ability of basil plants to accumulate metals from soil and to translocate them in their organs was evaluated by transfer coefficient, translocation factor, enrichment factor, and geo-accumulation index determinations. The basil plants grown in the metal-polluted soil showed stimulation effects comparing with the plants from the control soil. At the end of the exposure period, the plants had a visible increase of biomass and presented inflorescences and the leaves’ green pigment was intensified. The metals gathered differently in plant organs: Cd, Co, Cr, and Pb were accumulated in roots, while Cu, Ni, and Zn in flowers. Cr and Pb exceeded the toxic levels in roots. Also, the heavy metal intake depends on the plant development stages; thus, Cd, Cr, and Pb were accumulated more in mature plant leaves. The Cd and Pb contents were higher than the World Health Organization and European Commission permissible limits. The experimental results revealed that the basil plants exposed to a mixture of heavy metals have the potential to reduce the metal mobility from soil to plants. Translocation process from roots to flowers and to leaves was observed for Cu, Ni, and Zn, emphasizing a competition between metals. The calculated bioaccumulation factors were insignificant, but Cd and Pb concentrations exceeded the legal limits in the mature plants, being restricted for human or animal consumption.

Phytoremediation potential of moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys pubescens ) intercropped with Sedum plumbizincicola in metal-contaminated soil

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the capability of moso bamboo grown alone and in combination with Sedum plumbizincicola to remediate heavy metals. Monoculture of moso bamboo (MM), intercropping of moso bamboo × S. plumbizincicola (IMS), and control (uncultivated, CK) were established in Cu-, Zn-, and Cd-contaminated soil. Soil properties and heavy metal removal capacity were assessed. Results showed that the available and total heavy metal contents in soil (0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers) were ranked IMS < MM < CK. Available Cu, Zn, and Cd contents were 65.0, 28.7, and 48.4% lower in the IMS and 52.8, 24.8, and 45.5% lower in the MM than those in the CK, respectively. In plants, Cu contents in bamboo rhizomes, branches, and leaves and those of Zn and Cd in all bamboo tissues were significantly higher in the IMS than in the MM. The bioconcentration and translocation factors of bamboo tissues showed an obviously increasing tendency from MM to IMS. Moso bamboo possessed the properties of endurance to heavy metals and high biomass production. Phytoremediation by moso bamboo in association with S. plumbizincicola is an economical strategy to promote heavy metal removal from metal-contaminated soil.