Abstract
Plants and aqueous extracts of Alternanthera maritima (aerial parts and roots), Alternanthera brasiliana and Alternanthera tenella colla (total plant) were selected for analysis of metals bioaccumulation. The synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence (SRTXRF) was used for excitation of the samples and a Si(Li) detector for the detection of the characteristic X-rays emitted by the sample elements. The elements P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr were detected in all samples. Further-more Al, Si, Cl, Ni, Br, Rb, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, and Pb in Alternanthera maritima samples; Si, Co, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Ce in Alternanthera brasiliana and Al, Si, Co, Ni, Br, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Ce in Alternanthera tenella colla were found. The concentration obtained in the samples for K-shell lines varied from 1.63 µg g−1 for Ni to 3.34 × 105 µg g−1for K, and for L-shell the values ranged from 1.64 x 101 µg g−1 for Cd to 6.71 × 102 µg g−1 for Sn.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Professor Dr. J. C. de Siqueira for identifying the plant material, to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for financial support and fellowship given to the first author. Research partially performed at National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazil (Project LNLS-XRF 899/2001).