Thursday 7 May 2020

Bioaccumulation of vanadium (V), niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) in diverse mangroves of the Indian Sundarbans

Bioaccumulation of vanadium (V), niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) in diverse mangroves of the Indian Sundarbans
R. Ray & B. Dutta & S. K. Mandal & A. G. González & O. S. Pokrovsky & T. K. Jana
Received: 17 December 2019 /Accepted: 2 February 2020
# Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract
Background and aims 
Vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta), recognized as Technology-Critical Element (TCE), are highly growing in demand for industrial development. Despite their economic relevance, little is known about their environmental concentrations, especially in marine ecosystems like mangroves. This paper describes concentrations and distribution patterns of GroupVa elements (V, Nb and Ta) in plant organs and sediments from diverse mangroves of the Indian
Sundarbans.
Method 
Sediment cores and plant organs of eight dominant mangrove species were sampled and analyzed for V, Nb and Ta by ICP-MS. Stable carbon isotope (δ13C) in mangrove leaves were analyzed by EA-IRMS.
Result
Mean concentrations (mg kg−1) of V, Nb and Ta decreased in the order V (84.7 ± 12.5) > Nb (37.5 ± 4) >Ta (3 ± 0.8) in the sediment and V (0.6 ± 0.6) > Nb (0.02) > Ta (0.002) in the mangrove plants. Speciesspecific variability in bioaccumulation factor (V: 0.012–0.035; Nb: 0.001–0.003; Ta: 0.001–0.005), translocation factor (V: 0.5–5.1; Nb: 0.26–7.06; Ta: 0.22– 2.56) and enrichment factor (V: 0.008–0.027; Nb: 0.0002–0.001; Ta: 1.0 × 10−5-3.0 × 10−6) indicated different partitioning of GroupVa elements within the plant organs and varying degree of mangrove uptake efficiency.
Conclusion
Results showed a general decrease in V, Nb and Ta concentrations with their increasing atomic weight. Their total concentrations in plants were related to the degree of enrichment of substrate sediments. The phytoextraction capacity varied amongst mangrove species depending on their CO2 uptake efficiency. Given increased demand for TCEs, results may have important implications for bioremediation processes.
Keywords Vanadium . Niobium. Tantalum .Bioaccumulation . Mangrove . Sundarbans

Plant Soil : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04450-2