Zinc and copper uptake and bioaccumulation in pelargonium plant measured by ICP-MS : a Lebanese case study

Abstract

The aim of the experiment is to determine the ability of Pelargonium to bioaccumulate Zinc and Cu in its system. A greenhouse experiment was conducted, with a total of 7 treatments, on potted Pelargonium plants irrigated with contaminated water. Concentrations ranged between 2 and 2000 ppm for Zinc and 0.2 to 200 ppm for Copper. Zinc and Copper were measured separately in leaves, roots, soil, and drained water using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicated high resilience in Pelargonium plant. They also revealed its ability to accumulate Zinc and Copper at concentrations exceeding 6,000 mg/kg and 900 mg/kg, respectively, in plant tissues. As a result, Pelargonium can be considered as a good candidate for phyt-stabilization. Further research ought to be done to better investigate this plant.