Abstract
Cobalt is economically considered a critical metal for a variety of technologies. Globally, the most important Co ore deposits occur in the Katangan Copperbelt (Democratic Republic of Congo) where a richness of Cu-Co-tolerant and accumulator plants have developed naturally. Cobalt mining there has resulted in the dissemination of large quantities of waste in the environment and is a major environmental issue. Reduction of environmental risks and Co dispersion can be performed by phytoremediation and/or agromining, using trace-element-tolerant and putative hyperaccumulator plants that originated from the biodiversity of natural Co and Cu-rich habitats. Accumulation of foliar Co to >300 μg g−1 is exceptionally rare globally, being known principally from the Copperbelt of Central Africa. This chapter highlights advances in our knowledge of Co accumulation in plants, examines potential for use of a Co-accumulator in agromining, and defines perspectives for Co agromining by designing multi-functions and services of agroecosystems.
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Faucon, MP., Pourret, O., Lange, B. (2018). Element Case Studies: Cobalt and Copper. In: Van der Ent, A., Echevarria, G., Baker, A., Morel, J. (eds) Agromining: Farming for Metals. Mineral Resource Reviews. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61899-9_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61899-9_13
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