Methods for elucidating elemental distribution in hyperaccumulator plants

A. van der Ent, Imam Purwadi, Hugh H. Harris, Peter M. Kopittke, Wojciech J. Przybyłowicz, Jolanta Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Crucial to many investigations on the ecophysiology of hyperaccumulator plants is visualization of the spatial distribution of metal(loid)s in their tissues. A wide variety of methods can be used to obtain information on the distribution of elements in plant tissues, and X-ray elemental mapping techniques are especially widely used. Microanalytical investigations place strict demands on sample collection, preparation, and analytical conditions, in order to avoid elemental redistribution, chemical modification, or ultrastructural alterations. This chapter summarizes a range of techniques that can be used to visualise the elemental distribution in hyperaccumulator plants, including synchrotron and laboratory-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (micro-XRF), proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), scanning/transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/TEM-EDS), laser ablation-inductively-coupled plasma—mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), nanoscale secondary ion mass spectroscopy (NanoSIMS), autoradiography, histochemical methods, and confocal microscopy using fluorophores.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAgromining: Farming for Metals
EditorsAntony van der Ent, Alan J. M. Baker, Guillaume Echevarria, Marie-Odile Simonnot, Jean Louis Morel
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Pages197–214
Edition2
ISBN (Electronic)9783030589042
ISBN (Print)9783030589035
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameMineral Resource Reviews series

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