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Biotechnical aspects of heavy metal hyper-accumulator plants

Reference	BBS/E/C/00031564
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Stephen Paul McGrath
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	25,226
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	22/06/1998
Duration	14 months

Abstract

Details should only be considered in the context of PU information. This project builds on the success of the first field experiment in the world here at Rothamsted to test the efficiency of specialised metal-hyperaccumulator plants to remove metals from an industrially-polluted soil. After this experiment, it was clear that Zn and Cd are prime targets for this form of bioconcentration in above ground biomass and removal from contaminated sites. However, little is known about hyperaccumulators; their metal tolerance, maximum uptake capacity, growth characteristics and mechanisms of metal uptake, transport and sequestration. This project addresses some of these needs for knowledge and is highly relevant to the bioremediation and bioavailability themes of the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Directorate. The prospects for efficiently removing metals (which are impossible to remove cheaply by other means) are good, and this type of approach could be developed and lead to wealth creating biotechnologies in future.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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