The Effect of Leaching Agents on the Growth and Uptake of Rare Earth Elements and Uranium by Dicranopteris linearis

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Soil Science
• Main Author: Muna N.A.; Muhammad N.N.N.; Yunus M.Y.M.; Kassim K.; Jamion N.A.; Kassim J.; Abdul Rahman H.A.; Yong S.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Society of Soil Science 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85208916223&partnerID=40&md5=58dd207de2bcd26a19e566ea71cbf6f9

Commercial extraction of rare earth elements (REE) from ion adsorption clay (IAC) may release toxic elements and radionuclides and pollute the environment. Dicranopteris linearis is a fern species available in Malaysia and can accumulate REE and uranium (U) with greater efficiency, especially when IAC is treated with a leaching agent such as hydrolyzed humic acid (FA). This study aims to investigate the growth of D. linearis and its uptake for REE and U in an IAC treated with FA produced at pH 1 (1 % w/w FA pH 1) and pH 6 (1 % w/w FA pH 6). The results were compared with those of commercial ammonium sulfate (0.45 M (NH4)2SO4), and artificial rain (10 mM CaCl2). The REE and U content were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The t-test showed a significance value (p<0.05), indicating that the difference between the REE and U uptake of D. linearis with different treatments are significant. The highest Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Translocation Factor (TF) values for scandium (Sc) (5.29±0) were recorded when IAC was treated with FA pH 1. Treatment of IAC with FA pH 6 also allows translocation of cerium (Ce) to the shoot of D. linearis (TF= 1.96±0). A significantly higher uptake for praseodymium (Pr) and U was observed when IAC was treated with (NH4)2SO4, possibly due to a greater mobilization that allows more uptake at the shoot of D. linearis. Using FA pH 6 may offer a safer alternative to (NH4)2SO4 for selectively extracting Ce and lanthanum (La). © 2024, Malaysian Society of Soil Science. All rights reserved.