Mercury mobilization in a contaminated industrial soil for phytoremediation

The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of using plants for mercury (Hg) removal from a contaminated industrial soil, increasing the metal's bioaccessibility by using mobilizing agents: ammonium thiosulphate [(NH4)2S2O3] and potassium iodide (KI). The selected plant species were Brassica juncea and Poa annua. The addition of the mobilizing agents promoted Hg uptake by plants, with respect to controls. Treatments promoted Hg translocation to aerial parts. In the case of Poa annua, greater Hg uptake was found in plants after the 100 mM KI treatment, reaching values that were nearly 400 mg kg-1 in the aerial part. In contrast, Brassica juncea plants accumulated in their aerial part the greatest Hg quantities, about 100 mg kg-1, after treatment with 0.27 M (NH4)2S2O3. The ratio between the concentration of Hg in the shoots and the initial concentration in the soil support the potential for successfully applying Hg phytoextraction on this soil.