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Concentration-dependent RDX uptake and remediation by crop plants

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Abstract

The potential RDX contamination of food chain from polluted soil is a significant concern in regards to both human health and environment. Using a hydroponic system and selected soils spiked with RDX, this study disclosed that four crop plant species maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum sudanese), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and soybean (Glycine max) were capable of RDX uptake with more in aerial parts than roots. The accumulation of RDX in the plant tissue is concentration-dependent up to 21 mg RDX/L solution or 100 mg RDX/kg soil but not proportionally at higher RDX levels from 220 to 903 mg/kg soil. While wheat plant tissue harbored the highest RDX concentration of 2,800 μg per gram dry biomass, maize was able to remove a maximum of 3,267 μg RDX from soil per pot by five 4-week plants at 100 mg/kg of soil. Although RDX is toxic to plants, maize, sorghum, and wheat showed reasonable growth in the presence of the chemical, whereas soybeans were more sensitive to RDX. Results of this study facilitate assessment of the potential invasion of food chain by RDX-contaminated soils.

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Abbreviations

RDX:

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine

TNT:

Trinitrotoluene

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatography

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Author notes

  1. Diejun Chen

    Present address: National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, USDA-ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

    Diejun Chen & Wanye Banwart

  2. National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, USDA-ARS, 1815 N University St, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Z. Lewis Liu

Authors
  1. Diejun Chen
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  2. Z. Lewis Liu
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  3. Wanye Banwart
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Correspondence to Diejun Chen.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Chen, D., Liu, Z.L. & Banwart, W. Concentration-dependent RDX uptake and remediation by crop plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 908–917 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0449-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0449-9

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