CHARACTERIZATION OF ARSENIC UPTAKE IN LIVING PTERIS VITTATA L.

Phytoremediation of arsenic contamination using the hyperaccumulatorPteris vittatais an active area of research. However, the mechanism for the uptake of arsenic inP. vittataremains unclear, due to the absence of methods to monitor this process. This study utilized synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) to continuously observein situarsenic in livingP. vittata. The results showed that the reduction of arsenic(V) to arsenic(III) occurred simultaneously with an increase in frond arsenic, suggesting the reduction affected arsenic uptake.In situXRF measurements of livingP. vittataaccurately characterized arsenic uptake butin situXANES could not be used on live plants without using methods to prevent radiation damage. A novel approach is reported to investigate the changes of elements in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]