Effect of temperature on the uptake and metabolism of cyanide by weeping willows

X.-Z. Yu, Stefan Trapp, P.-H. Zhou, L. Chen

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    Abstract

    Plants’ uptake and metabolism of cyanide in response to changes in temperature was investigated.
    Pre-rooted weeping willows (Salix babylonica L.) were exposed to hydroponic solution
    spiked with potassium cyanide for 2–3 d. Ten different temperatures were used, ranging from
    11◦C to 32◦C. Cyanide in water, plant tissue, and air was analyzed spectrophotometrically.
    The results revealed that significant amounts of the applied cyanide were removed from the
    aqueous solutions in the presence of plants. Small amounts of free cyanide were detected
    in plant materials in all treatments, but there was no clear trend that showed an increase
    or decrease in the accumulation in plant material with temperature. The highest cyanide
    metabolism rate for weeping willows was found at 32◦C with a value of 2.78 mg CN/(kg·d),
    whereas the lowest value was 1.20 mg CN/(kg·d) at 11◦C. The temperature coefficient, Q10,
    which is the ratio of metabolism rates at a 10◦C difference, was determined for weeping
    willows to be 1.46. In conclusion, changes in temperature have a substantial influence on
    the uptake and metabolism of cyanide by plants, but cyanide accumulation does not increase
    with temperature.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalInternational Journal of Phytoremediation
    Volume9
    Pages (from-to)243-255
    ISSN1522-6514
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

    Keywords

    • cyanide
    • metabolism
    • phytoremediation
    • temperature
    • weeping willows

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