Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Effect of Zeolite on Lithium Uptake in Poplar

Supporting Info

Michael J. Harbottle,*^† Michael D. Mantle,^‡ Michael L. Johns,^‡ René van Herwijnen,^†^§ Abir Al-Tabbaa,^† Tony R. Hutchings,^§ Andy J. Moffat,^§ and Sabeha K. Ouki

Department of Engineering, Cambridge University, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3RA, UK, Forest Research, Alice Holt Research Station, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK, and School of Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2007, 41 (10), pp 3444–3448

DOI: 10.1021/es0623111

Publication Date (Web): April 12, 2007

Corresponding author present address: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK; phone: +442920875759; fax: +442920874716; e-mail: harbottlem@cardiff.ac.uk.

†

Department of Engineering, Cambridge University.

‡

Department of Chemical Engineering, Cambridge University.

Forest Research, Alice Holt Research Station.

School of Engineering, University of Surrey.

Abstract

The use of a zeolite (clinoptilolite) to protect poplar plants from lithium-contaminated soil has been studied using magnetic resonance imaging. Lithium was used as a model contaminant as it could be tracked directly using specific nuclear magnetic resonance probes, rather than relying on relaxation time effects on protons due to paramagnetic solutes. The sorption of lithium to the zeolite was investigated both in static and dynamic systems; lithium was found to sorb readily to the zeolite over time. Poplar plants were grown in soil microcosms consisting of either sand or sand and zeolite with nutrients provided through the use of Hoagland's solution as the pore fluid. Both one-dimensional profiles of lithium concentration along poplar stems and direct lithium imaging of stem cross-sections were employed to reveal the uptake of the contaminant into the plant structure, showing significantly less lithium present in plants grown in sand and zeolite than those grown in sand alone. Evidence of structural features involved in the uptake of lithium was also obtained.

View: Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF