Chelate-induced accumulation of rare earth elements in plants grown on soil and ash-based growing media

Gmur, Dominika; Siebielec, Grzegorz; Pecio, Monika

doi:10.2478/cag-2025-0001

Figures & Tables

The total biomass production (g pot−1, dw, mean± SD, n=3) for Achillea millefolium, Trifolium pratense and Dryopteris erythrosora grown on substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), and substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat). Values marked with different letters indicate significant differences within substrates and chelators for each plants species at p<0.05 according to Tukey’s HSD test (ANOVA).

Translocation factor for La, Ce, Eu and Gd for Achillea millefolium, Trifolium pratense and Dryopteris erythrosora in two substrates. The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat). The markings show BCF for: La-1, Ce-1, Eu-1, Gd-1 – REE in substrate 1, La-2, Ce-2, Eu-2, Gd-2 –REE in substrate 2.

Bioconcentration factor for La, Ce, Eu and Gd for Achillea millefolium, Trifolium pratense and Dryopteris erythrosora in two substrates. The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat). The markings show BCF for: La-1, Ce-1, Eu-1, Gd-1 – REE in substrate 1, La-2, Ce-2, Eu-2, Gd-2 – REE in substrate 2.

Values of pH of the substrates used in the experiment after the plant harvest (pH in H2O, mean± SD, n=3) in substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Chelate	Achillea millefolium	Trifolium pratense	Dryopteris erythrosora
Control	7.3 ± 0.19	7.4 ±0.02	7.4 ± 0.03
5 mM CA	7.3 ± 0.08	7.3 ± 0.04	7.4 ± 0.06
5 mM EGTA	7.5 ± 0.196	7.4 ± 0.04	7.6 ± 0.04
5 mM EDTA	7.3 ± 0.06	7.3 ± 0.06	7.4 ± 0.13
10 mM CA	7.2 ± 0.02	7.3 ± 0.06	7.3 ± 0.04
10 mM EGTA	7.3 ± 0.03	7.3 ± 0.03	7.3 ± 0.08
10 mM EDTA	7.4 ± 0.04	7.3 ± 0.18	7.3 ± 0.10

Contents of the tested REE: La, Ce, Eu and Gd [mg kg−1] in the substrates used in the experiment_

Substrate	La	Ce	Eu	Gd
1	103.55	107.52	90.01	100.54
95% soil, 5% compost	103.55	107.52	90.01	100.54
2	3.21	6.35	0.21	0.68
30% ash, 20% compost, 50% peat	3.21	6.35	0.21	0.68

Concentrations of La, Ce, Eu, and Gd in aboveground parts and underground parts ofDryopteris erythrosorawhen grown on two substrates (mg kg −1, mean± SD, n= 3)_ The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Substrate	Chelator	Aboveground parts				Underground part
Substrate	Chelator	La	Ce	Eu	Gd	La	Ce	Eu	Gd
1	Control	8.73 ±0.09 d	7.48 ±0.79 d	2.61 ±0.09 b	3.29 ±0.10 e	51.61 ±0.41 a	35.15 ±2.72 c	20.15 ±1.28 b	44.77 ±2.37 a
1	5 mM CA	9.67 ±1.99 c	9.08 ±1.20 c	3.60 ±0.10 a	4.99 ±0.33 c	38.36 ±1.79 b	45.11 ±3.90 a	29.74 ±2.09 a	42.00 ±0.75 ab
1	5 mM EGTA	7.98 ±0.25 de	5.99 ±0.21 d	2.53 ±0.08 b	3.42 ±0.30 e	39.37 ±5.85 b	34.24 ±0.44 c	22.87 ±1.11 b	37.36 ±1.82 b
1	5 mM EDTA	9.11 ±0.47 c	6.02 ±0.28 d	3.00 ±0.64 ab	2.82 ±0.03 f	28.35 ±6.006 c	27.00 ±5.23 d	30.30 ±1.46 a	25.40 ±2.11 c
1	10 mM CA	23.54 ±2.61 a	15.24 ±2.86 a	3.24 ±0.36 ab	7.71 ±0.98 a	49.15 ±1.64 a	40.98 ±1.83 b	21.28 ±0.55 b	42.40 ±2.99 a
1	10 mM EGTA	14.66 ±0.19 b	12.30 ±0.26 b	3.57 ±0.14 a	6.13 ±0.53 b	43.04 ±1.18 b	47.33 ±1.00 a	20.40 ±3.17 b	38.99 ±0.67 b
1	10 mM EDTA	12.08 ±1.21 bc	9.00 ±0.38 c	1.47 ±0.26 c	4.17 ±0.19 c	54.56 ±1.67 a	46.56 ±0.46 a	28.94 ±4.01 a	37.27 ±2.05 b
2	Control	0.14 ±0.02 f	0.22 ±0.04 e	0.01 ±0.01 d	0.03 ±0.01 g	0.25 ±0.03 d	0.47 ±0.01 e	0.03 ±0.01 c	0.11 ±0.03 d
2	5 mM CA	0.30 ±0.05 f	0.31 ±0.04 e	0.16 ±0.06 d	0.18 ±0.06 g	0.18 ±0.06 d	0.28 ±0.01 e	0.04 ±0.01 c	0.07 ±0.001 d
2	5 mM EGTA	0.25 ±0.03 f	0.24 ±0.04 e	0.03 ±0.01 d	0.09 ±0.07 g	0.13 ±0.02 d	0.32 ±0.01 e	0.02 ±0.01 c	0.05 ±0.01 d
2	5 mM EDTA	0.50 ±0.13 f	0.68 ±0.10 e	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.04 ±0.01 g	0.13 ±0.03 d	0.22 ±0.02 e	0.03 ±0.01 c	0.03 ±0.001 d
2	10 mM CA	0.81 ±0.31 f	0.94 ±0.22 e	0.14 ±0.10 d	0.33 ±0.04 g	0.15 ±0.02 d	0.32 ±0.02 e	0.06 ±0.02 c	0.07 ±0.01 d
2	10 mM EGTA	0.21 ±0.05 f	0.39 ±0.01 e	0.03 ±0.01 d	0.09 ±0.01 g	0.12 ±0.01 d	0.30 ±0.01 e	0.02 ±0.01 c	0.05 ±0.01 d
2	10 mM EDTA	0.36 ±0.05 f	0.55 ±0.07 e	0.04 ±0.01 d	0.07 ±0.02 g	0.18 ±0.02 d	0.36 ±0.07 e	0.06 ±0.03 c	0.11 ±0.03 d

Content of elements [mg kg−1] and other chemical properties of the soil (before adding REE solutions) and the power plant ash_

Element	Soil	Power plant ash
Li	3.25	11.31
Be	0.19	0.83
Al	4967.47	15669.29
V	14.19	35.53
Cr	10.59	46.60
Mn	225.16	6313.97
Fe	7244.23	14030.51
Co	3.20	15.05
Ni	7.58	53.49
Cu	6.75	498.03
Zn	48.39	892.71
As	2.71	9.30
Se	0.19	1.08
Sr	1.08	36.12
Mo	0.24	3.69
Ag	0.14	4.77
Cd	0.24	11.17
Sn	0.04	22.68
Sb	0.04	16.48
Ba	31.73	797.73
La	8.42	8.90
Ce	18.52	18.65
Eu	0.24	0.54
Gd	1.47	1.91
Tl	0.04	0.39
Pb	12.91	117.42
Bi	0.09	6.29
Na	40.31	8769.68
Mg	941.25	10300.19
K	1768.18	18454.72
Ca	1167.80	130492.47
pH in H₂O	7.13	8.55
EC [µS cm⁻¹]	99	11080
Total nitrogen [%N]	0.09	0.12
Total carbon [%C]	1.19	20.60

Concentrations of La, Ce, Eu, and Gd in above ground parts and underground parts of Achillea millefoliumwhen grown on two substrates (mg kg−1, mean± SD, n= 3)_ The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Substrate	Chelator	Aboveground parts				Underground parts
Substrate	Chelator	La	Ce	Eu	Gd	La	Ce	Eu	Gd
1	Control	1.68 ±0.24 ab	1.46 ±0.36 b	0.31 ±0.03 e	0.95 ±0.26 b	43.59 ±0.92 b	37.40 ±0.75 b	23.76 ±0.33 cd	45.74 ±2.82 b
1	5 mM CA	1.81 ±0.15 ab	1.67 ±0.16 b	0.57 ±0.02 de	1.28 ±0.12 ab	37.78 ±5.39 cd	29.29 ±5.76 c	32.41 ±4.17 b	40.15 ±2.18 bc
1	5 mM EGTA	1.58 ±0.26 c	1.78 ±0.23 b	0.67 ±0.17 cd	1.46 ±0.19 ab	57.63 ±0.26 a	53.15 ±0.68 a	41.84 ±2.65 a	63.60 ±3.43 a
1	5 mM EDTA	1.81 ±0.15 ab	1.69 ±0.09 b	1.50 ±0.22 b	3.50 ±0.54 a	41.40 ±0.82 bc	28.53 ±2.58 cd	14.76 ±1.47 e	35.61 ±0.85 d
1	10 mM CA	2.04 ±0.03 a	2.26 ±0.36 b	0.72 ±0.29 cd	1.43 ±0.69 ab	33.68 ±0.56 d	27.23 ±2.83 cd	19.76 ±0.08 d	39.70 ±1.27 c
1	10 mM EGTA	1.71 ±0.09 ab	1.74 ±1.06 b	1.05 ±0.21 c	2.12 ±0.10 a	39.11 ±0.63 bc	41.90 ±0.52 b	20.53 ±0.51 cd	34.59 ±5.09 d
1	10 mM EDTA	2.00 ±0.09 a	2.82 ±1.06 a	4.00 ±0.21 a	3.70 ±0.10 a	32.56 ±0.63 e	43.16 ±0.52 b	32.38 ±0.51 c	31.37 ±5.09 d
2	Control	0.04 ±0.02 d	0.10 ±0.03 c	0.02 ±0.01 f	0.06 ±0.03 c	0.36 ±0.01 f	0.58 ±0.0352 e	0.23 ±0.06 f	0.40 ±0.04 e
2	5 mM CA	0.05 ±0.02 d	0.11 ±0.02 c	0.03 ±0.01 f	0.06 ±0.01 c	0.19 ±0.01 f	0.12 ±0.01 e	0.12 ±0.01 f	0.21 ±0.01 e
2	5 mM EGTA	0.08 ±0.02 d	0.15 ±0.03 c	0.05 ±0.01 f	0.13 ±0.03 c	0.31 ±0.08 f	0.18 ±0.039 e	0.05 ±0.01 f	0.32 ±0.34 e
2	5 mM EDTA	0.09 ±0.03 d	0.13 ±0.05 c	0.03 ±0.02 f	0.08 ±0.05 c	0.24 ±0.03 f	0.14 ±0.05 e	0.05 ±0.01 f	0.08 ±0.01 e
2	10 mM CA	0.07 ±0.01 d	0.12 ±0.02 c	0.04 ±0.01 f	0.06 ±0.01 c	0.11 ±0.01 f	0.14 ±0.01 e	0.04 ±0.01 f	0.08 ±0.01 e
2	10 mM EGTA	0.04 ±0.01 d	0.08 ±0.01 c	0.01 ±0.0001 f	0.05 ±0.005 c	0.25 ±0.02 f	0.27 ±0.01 e	0.07 ±0.02 f	0.25 ±0.03 e
2	10 mM EDTA	0.05 ±0.01 d	0.12 ±0.03 c	0.02 ±0.01 f	0.07 ±0.02 c	0.32 ±0.03 f	0.34 ±0.04 e	0.17 ±0.03 f	0.28 ±0.08 e

Concentrations of La, Ce, Eu, and Gd in above ground parts and underground parts of Trifolium pratensewhen grown on two substrates (mg kg−1, mean± SD, n = 3)_ The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Substrate	Chelator	Aboveground parts				Underground part
Substrate	Chelator	La	Ce	Eu	Gd	La	Ce	Eu	Gd
1	Control	3.98 ±0.69 a	3.01 ±0.39 b	0.88 ±0.16 c	2.47 ±0.33 c	42.12 ±1.77 b	43.13 ±3.78 b	16.16 ±1.37 d	39.13 ±0.28 bc
1	5 mM CA	3.63 ±0.14 b	2.96 ±0.04 c	0.98 ±0.14 c	2.71 ±0.18 c	35.89 ±1.54 c	34.18 ±1.43 c	15.19 ±0.65 d	37.56 ±2.00 cd
1	5 mM EGTA	3.47 ±0.25 b	2.50 ±0.22 d	1.01 ±0.17 c	2.68 ±0.18 c	37.45 ±0.25 bc	35.15 ±0.68 c	22.77 ±2.65 c	34.07 ±3.42 de
1	5 mM EDTA	3.45 ±0.34 b	3.03 ±0.23 b	2.62 ±0.22 b	5.28 ±0.39 b	40.46 ±1.30 bc	33.34 ±2.12 c	23.11 ±0.30 c	33.66 ±1.04 de
1	10 mM CA	3.56 ±0.32 b	2.29 ±0.19 d	1.05 ±0.12 c	2.26 ±0.26 c	60.20 ±2.18 a	44.84 ±1.65 b	30.13 ±1.05 b	51.15 ±3.45 a
1	10 mM EGTA	2.88 ±0.05 c	4.01 ±0.15 a	3.70 ±0.18 a	5.94 ±0.01 b	60.16 ±4.72 a	62.22 ±5.15 a	45.91 ±6.40 a	43.19 ±2.76 b
1	10 mM EDTA	3.55 ±0.20 b	3.82 ±0.36 a	3.98 ±0.70 a	10.20 ±0.53 a	32.56 ±0.86 c	43.16 ±0.42 b	32.38 ±1.57 b	31.37 ±1.54 d
2	Control	0.04 ±0.01 d	0.07 ±0.01 e	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.05 ±0.02 d	0.42 ±0.03 d	0.53 ±0.02 d	0.23 ±0.03 e	0.39 ±0.04 e
2	5 mM CA	0.06 ±0.02 d	0.09 ±0.01 e	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.07 ±0.03 d	0.48 ±0.18 d	0.29 ±0.06 d	0.40 ±0.18 e	0.39 ±0.06 e
2	5 mM EGTA	0.04 ±0.02 d	0.10 ±0.01 e	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.04 ±0.01 d	0.25 ±0.05 d	0.34 ±0.06 d	0.16 ±0.06 e	0.19 ±0.05 e
2	5 mM EDTA	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.05 ±0.01 e	0.01 ±0.01 d	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.24 ±0.10 d	0.14 ±0.03 d	0.05 ±0.01 e	0.08 ±0.02 e
2	10 mM CA	0.03 ±0.03 d	0.08 ±0.05 e	0.06 ±0.07 d	0.04 ±0.02 d	0.62 ±0.13 d	0.80 ±0.13 d	0.43 ±0.03 e	0.78 ±0.09 e
2	10 mM EGTA	0.04 ±0.01 d	0.08 ±0.01 e	0.01 ±0.01 d	0.03 ±0.01 d	0.29 ±0.06 d	0.25 ±0.01 d	0.10 ±0.02 e	0.30 ±0.06 e
2	10 mM EDTA	0.02 ±0.01 d	0.05 ±0.02 e	0.01 ±0.01 d	0.03 ±0.01 d	0.32 ±0.05 d	0.34 ±0.01 d	0.17 ±0.03 e	0.28 ±0.01 e

Values of pH of the substrates used in the experiment after the plant harvest (pH in H2O, mean± SD, n=3) in substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost)_

Chelate	Achillea millefolium	Trifolium pratense	Dryopteris erythrosora
Control	6.6 ± 0.15	5.9 ± 0.10	6.2 ± 0.20
5 mM CA	6.2 ± 0.10	5.9 ± 0.05	5.9 ± 0.17
5 mM EGTA	5.9 ± 0.09	5.6 ± 0.10	5.9 ± 0.16
5 mM EDTA	6.2 ± 0.14	5.6 ± 0.09	6.1 ± 0.03
10 mM CA	5.5 ± 0.07	5.6 ± 0.17	5.7 ± 0.17
10 mM EGTA	5.6 ± 0.13	6.1 ± 0.14	5.7 ± 0.16
10 mM EDTA	5.6 ± 0.44	5.9 ± 0.06	5.9 ± 0.25

Chelate-induced accumulation of rare earth elements in plants grown on soil and ash-based growing media

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Values of pH of the substrates used in the experiment after the plant harvest (pH in H2O, mean± SD, n=3) in substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Contents of the tested REE: La, Ce, Eu and Gd [mg kg−1] in the substrates used in the experiment_

Content of elements [mg kg−1] and other chemical properties of the soil (before adding REE solutions) and the power plant ash_

Concentrations of La, Ce, Eu, and Gd in above ground parts and underground parts of Achillea millefoliumwhen grown on two substrates (mg kg−1, mean± SD, n= 3)_ The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Concentrations of La, Ce, Eu, and Gd in above ground parts and underground parts of Trifolium pratensewhen grown on two substrates (mg kg−1, mean± SD, n = 3)_ The substrates used were as follows: substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost), substrate 2 (30% ash from a power plant, 20% compost, 50% peat)_

Values of pH of the substrates used in the experiment after the plant harvest (pH in H2O, mean± SD, n=3) in substrate 1 (95% soil, 5% compost)_

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