Effects of Organic Acids and Sylvite on Phytoextraction of (241)Am Contaminated Soil.

Contamination of soil with Americium ((241)Am) at nuclear sites in China poses a serious problem. We screened six plants, from five families, for their (241)Am-enrichment potential. Europium (Eu), which is morphologically and chemically similar to the highly toxic (241)Am, was used in its place. Moreover, the effects of sylvite, citric acid (CA), malic acid (MA), and humic acid (HA) on the absorption of (241)Am by the plants, and its transport within them, were evaluated along with their effect on plant biomass and (241)Am extraction volume. Barley and cabbage showed relatively stronger Eu accumulation capacities. Citric acid promoted the absorption of (241)Am by barley roots and its transport within the plants. The effects of sylvite were not obvious and those of HA were the weakest in case of sunflower; HA, however, maximally increased the biomass of the plants. Our results could provide the basis for future radionuclide phytoremediation of contaminated soils.