Method for removing soluble metals from an aqueous phase
AssigneePhytotech Limited
InventorsIlya Raskin, Slavik Douchenkov, Yoram Kapulnik, Nanda P. B. A. Kumar
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Abstract
A process for the removal of metal ions from solution and means for effecting such removal are described. The process is based on the hydroponic growth of sunflowers, terrestrial turfgrasses and/or members of the family Brassicaceae in solutions containing one or more metal ions. Metal ions can be efficiently removed from solutions by passing these solutions through the root biomass of these terrestrial plants. Columns containing the root biomass are also part of the invention.
Claims33
A method for reducing an amount of metal in a metal-containing solution, comprising:
- contacting the solution with a terrestrial plant having a root biomass, said contacting under conditions sufficient for the root biomass of the terrestrial plant to remove the metal from the solution;
- separating the root biomass of the terrestrial plant from remaining parts of the terrestrial plant;
- and
- removing the root biomass from the metal-containing solution.
A method of removing metal from a solution
- containing said metal, comprising:
- growing a terrestrial plant derived from a mutagenized progenitor hydroponically in the presence of the metal;
- allowing roots of the plant to remain in contact with the solution for a time and under conditions sufficient for the roots to accumulate metal therein.
A method of removing a soluble metal from a solution, comprising:
- providing a column for holding at least one plant in a solution, the column having one and another ends;
- introducing a solution containing the soluble metal into one end of the column;
- maintaining a terrestrial plant derived from a mutagenized progenitor hydroponically within the column;
- allowing the plant to accumulate the metal in roots of the plant;
- and
- removing the solution from at least one of said ends of the column.
A method for reducing an amount of metal in a metal-containing solution, comprising:
- contacting the solution with a root biomass of a terrestrial plant under conditions sufficient for the root biomass to remove the metal from the solution;
- and
- separating the root biomass from the solution, wherein the terrestrial plant is derived from a mutagenized progenitor.
A method for reducing an amount of metal in a metal-containing solution, comprising:
- contacting the solution with a root biomass of a terrestrial plant under conditions sufficient for the root biomass to remove the metal from the solution;
- and
- separating the root biomass from the solution, wherein the terrestrial plant is a transformant expressing a heterologous gene.
A method of removing metal from a solution containing said metal, comprising:
- hydroponically growing a terrestrial plant in the presence of the metal, the terrestrial plant being a transformant expressing a heterologous gene;
- allowing roots of the plant to remain in contact with the solution for a time and under conditions sufficient for the roots to accumulate metal therein.
A method of removing a metal from a solution, comprising:
- providing a column for holding at least one plant in a solution, the column having one and another ends;
- introducing a solution containing the metal into one end of the column;
- hydroponically maintaining within the column a terrestrial plant that is a transformant expressing a heterologous gene;
- allowing the plant to accumulate the metal in roots of the plant;
- and
- removing the solution from at least one of said ends of the column.
A method for reducing an amount of metal in a metal-containing solution, comprising:
- contacting excised roots of a terrestrial plant with a metal-containing solution under conditions sufficient for the excised roots to remove the metal from the solution;
- and
- separating the excised roots from the solution.
A method for reducing an amount of metal in a metal-containing solution, comprising:
- selecting a terrestrial plant that accumulates more metal in root biomass than in shoot biomass;
- contacting the solution with the root biomass of the terrestrial plant under conditions sufficient for the root biomass of the terrestrial plant to remove the metal from the solution;
- and
- separating the root biomass of the terrestrial plant from remaining parts of the terrestrial plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.