Selective removal of selenium by phytoremediation from post/mining coal wastes: practicality and implications

ABSTRACT

Selenium (Se), a metalloid typically natural in origin, is also present in coal washery by-products such as fly-ash stockpiles. The removal of Se in coal washery by-products can be achieved through various bio-physico-chemical processes. This study investigated the phytoremediation of Se from post coal process wastes using Brassica juncea species. The selected plant species were grown in coal process wastes enriched with either a growth soil mix or hydroponic substrates. Successful Se extraction (48% and 28%) was achieved from both mixes. The tested plant species also accumulated other heavy metals (Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead) along with selenium in the plant biomass.

KEYWORDS:

• Phytoremediation
• phytoextraction
• selenium
• Brassica juncea
• coal wastes

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge to financial support of UNSW Sydney, School of Mineral and Energy Resources, Undergraduate Research Fund.

Disclosure statement

In accordance with Taylor & Francis and my ethical obligation as a researcher, I hereby declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this paper to be disclosed. All results and findings are reported based on the experimental studies that have been conducted for the requirement of a bachelor thesis.