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Influence of Sulfur on the Arsenic Phytoremediation Using Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara

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Abstract

Influences of sulfur (S) on the accumulation and detoxification of arsenic (As) in Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara, an arsenic hyperaccumulating submerged aquatic plant, were investigated. At low sulfur levels (<20 mg/L), the thiols and As concentrations in the plant increased significantly with increasing sulfate nutrient supply. If sulfur levels were above 20 mg/L, the thiols and As concentrations in the plant did not increase further. There was a significant positive correlation between thiols and As in the plant. As(III) is the main form (>75%) present in the plant after exposure to As(V). Sulfur plays an important role in the arsenic translocation and detoxification, possibly through stimulating the synthesis of thiols and complexation of arsenite-phytochelatins. This suggests that addition of sulfur to the arsenic-contaminated water may provide a way to promote arsenic bioaccumulation in plants for phytoremediation of arsenic pollution.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41501343, 31671635, 31400374 and 51408214), Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department (Nos. 14B066 and 15C0534).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China

    Guoliang Chen, Tao Feng, Zhixian Li, Zhang Chen & Yuanqi Chen

  2. Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Safe Utilization of Heavy Metal-Polluted Soils, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China

    Haihua Wang

  3. School of Architecture and Art Design, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China

    Yanci Xiang

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  1. Guoliang Chen
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  2. Tao Feng
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  3. Zhixian Li
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  4. Zhang Chen
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  5. Yuanqi Chen
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  6. Haihua Wang
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  7. Yanci Xiang
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Correspondence to Guoliang Chen.

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Chen, G., Feng, T., Li, Z. et al. Influence of Sulfur on the Arsenic Phytoremediation Using Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 99, 411–414 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2135-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2135-1

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