Plant uptake study : the hyperaccumulating and remediating potential of three plant species

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of investigations into the ability of cattail (Typha latifolia), willow (Salix spp.) and sedge (Carex lenticularis) to hyperaccumulate selenium and sulphate in contaminated water at an active coal mine site in northeastern British Columbia. The plants were cultivated in containment bins which were irrigated using water collected from the mine settling ponds containing elevated levels of selenium and sulphate. Water from an un-impacted creek near the mine site was used for the control bins. The bioconcentration factor (BCF), biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) and biological transfer coefficient (BTC) data obtained suggested the plants could be used for phytostabilization and phytoextraction of selenium, however the plants were not hyperaccumulators. Additional studies including the use of chelating agents such as EDTA which have been shown to increase metal translocation into plant tissue thereby improving overall phytoextraction would be beneficial to areas in Northern Canada with short growing season.