The development of urbanization has led to the contamination of soil, which contains all the essential components for growing healthy plants. These contaminants not only pose danger to plants and the ecosystem but also to human health, as humans intake plants as a part of their daily diet. These contaminants are mostly heavy metals often precipitated from industrial areas, disposals of wastes, leaded gasoline, animal manures, sewage, pesticides, fertilizers, the spillage of petrochemicals, or even atmospheric deposition. Several techniques have been adapted to attempt to minimize the concentration of heavy metals from soil. The focus of this study is to determine the effectiveness of utilizing phytoremediation as an alternative method for decreasing the concentration of heavy metals in polluted soils. The most common heavy metal pollutants are Cd, As, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Hg. Soil samples are collected from industrial areas in the region of southern California, specifically the Wilmington Oil Fields and Devil’s Gate Dam, and tested with a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer calibrated with a NIST soil standard. Based on the heavy metal concentration results from the analysis, a model soil system is created. This model soil system is then used for growing plants that will phytoremediate the contaminated soil. The plant chosen for phytoremediation is Brassica juncea, commonly known as the Indian Mustard plant. Samples from the model soils are then collected weekly and tested with a handheld XRF spectrometer to analyze the effectiveness of Indian Mustard plant in extracting metal pollutants within the contaminated soils.

Analyzing the effectiveness of phytoremediation, with the <i>Brassica juncea</i> plant, in extracting heavy metal pollutants from industrial soils

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Analyzing the effectiveness of phytoremediation, with the Brassica juncea plant, in extracting heavy metal pollutants from industrial soils