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Is rhamnolipid biosurfactant useful in cadmium phytoextraction?

  • SOILS, SEC 3 • REMEDIATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATED OR DEGRADED LANDS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

Successful chelant-assisted phytoextraction requires application of an eco-friendly metal-complexing agent which enhances metal uptake but does not pose a significant risk of off-site movement of metals. Rhamnolipid biosurfactant has been used to enhance cadmium (Cd) removal from contaminated soil by washing. It has a strong affinity for Cd compared to some other hazardous metals, suggesting that rhamnolipid could be useful in Cd phytoextraction. This study investigated the potential use of rhamnolipid to enhance Cd phytoextraction.

Materials and methods

Adsorption patterns of rhamnolipid in soils were investigated by batch adsorption experiments. Hydrophobicity of rhamnolipid–metal complexes were determined by assessing partitioning in an octanol/water system. Phytotoxicity of rhamnolipid to maize (Zea mays) and chelant-assisted phytoextraction efficiency of maize and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were determined in pot experiments.

Results and discussion

The results showed that rhamnolipid was prone to adsorb strongly to soil at low application rates (0.1–1.7 mM) possibly due to its hydrophobic interactions with soil organic matter, hence reducing its capacity to complex and transport metals to plant roots. Rhamnolipid mobility increased (i.e. decreased soil phase partitioning) at elevated concentrations (∼4.4 mM), which increased soil solution Cd concentrations possibly due to its reduced hydrophobic nature. The use of rhamnolipid at concentrations >4.4 mM severely reduced maize biomass yield, reducing the potential for chelant-assisted phytoextraction. At lower concentrations of rhamnolipid (0.02–1.4 mmol/kg), there was insignificant enhancement of Cd accumulation by plant (Z. mays and H. annuus) shoots, likely through strong retention of the chelant (or Cd-associated rhamnolipid) on soil surfaces.

Conclusions

High rates of rhamnolipid addition to soils in this study caused severe phytotoxicity to maize and sunflower. Lower rates of rhamnolpid addition to soils in this study did not improve Cd accumulation by plants. Therefore, the sorption of rhamnolipid (or Cd-associated rhamnolipid) to soils, along with the phytotoxicity and phytoextraction results, suggests that neither low nor high concentrations of rhamnolipid are likely to consistently assist Cd phytoextraction using maize or sunflower.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Michelle Smart and Claire Wright for technical support in ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis and Margaret Cargill for assistance with manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil and Land Systems, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA, 5064, Australia

    Jia Wen, Mike J. McLaughlin & Samuel P. Stacey

  2. CSIRO Land and Water, Agricultural Sustainable Flagship, Environmental Biogeochemistry Program, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA, 5064, Australia

    Mike J. McLaughlin & Jason K. Kirby

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  1. Jia Wen
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  2. Mike J. McLaughlin
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  3. Samuel P. Stacey
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  4. Jason K. Kirby
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Correspondence to Jia Wen.

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Responsible editor: Willie Peijnenburg

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Wen, J., McLaughlin, M.J., Stacey, S.P. et al. Is rhamnolipid biosurfactant useful in cadmium phytoextraction?. J Soils Sediments 10, 1289–1299 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-010-0229-z

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