Résumé
Phytoextraction is a promising strategy for remediation of metal-contaminated mine tailings [1]. This technology capitalizes on the ability of plants to effectively harvest metals from soil through root uptake and transport into above-ground tissues. However, there is a lack of information on plant metal accumulation in arid and semi-arid climatic regions, which presents a challenge for the selection of plant species for phytoextraction [2]. To address this gap, we are conducting extensive in-situ surveys of legacy mine sites and natural outcrops in Arizona, using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (pXRF). This tool rapidly characterizes metal accumulation in plant tissues, spanning across various plant families. To date, using this technology, we have been able to identify numerous species with a significant capacity for uptake of Cu, Se, Zn and Re. Further, plant-derived metal complexes can be subsequently used as "ecocatalysts" to replace traditional catalyst in organic chemistry reactions and industrial production of materials (e.g., bioinspired cosmetics, fragrance, or pharmaceutical industry). Consequently, innovative methods are being developed to expand the scope of plant identification research, encompassing the use of Micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to analyze metal allocation in plant tissues ex-situ. This research not only broadens our understanding of strategies underlying plant metal adaptation in arid regions but also supports the mining industry in sustainability by providing technology for metal recovery from mine tailings.[1] Bennett, Burkhead, J. L., Hale, K. L., Terry, N., Pilon, M., & Pilon‐Smits, E. A. H. (2003). Analysis of Transgenic Indian Mustard Plants for Phytoremediation of Metal‐Contaminated Mine Tailings. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32(2), 432–440. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2003.4320 [2] Mendez, & Maier, R. M. (2008). Phytostabilization of Mine Tailings in Arid and Semiarid Environments: An Emerging Remediation Technology. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(3), 278-283. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10608