Continental J.

Water, Air and Soil Pollution 3 (1): 26 32, 2012 ISSN: 2251 - 0508 Wilolud Journals, 2012 http://www.wiloludjournal.com Printed in Nigeria doi:10.5707/cjwasp.2012.3.1.26.32 THE TRANSFER FACTOR OF 134Cs FROM CONTAMINATED WATER IN PHYTOREMEDIATION USING Salvinia molesta Eko Susanto, Poppy Intan Tjahaja , Putu Sukmabuana, Neneng Nur Aisyah Div. of Environmental Radiation, Center for Nuclear Technology, Material and Radiomentry - BATAN ABSTRACT The trasfer of 134Cs from various concentration of contaminated water has been conducted to study the availability of Salvinia molesta to accumulate 134Cs for phytoremediation. Salvinia molesta was grown on water containing various concentration of 134Cs, i.e. 2481,8 Bq 134Cs (treatment 1); 3056,8 Bq 134Cs (treatment II); 14314 Bq 134Cs (treatment III) and without 134Cs (control). The 134Cs concentration in the plant as well as in the water were determined after the plants were grown to the 134Cs contaminated water for 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 1 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 26 days. The accumulation of 134Cs in the plants is expressed as transfer factor. The transfer factor values obtained from this research were 600.38 ml/g; 655.33 ml/g and 570.75 ml/g for treatment I, II, and III. These value are still in the range of transfer factor values published by IAEA. The highest transfer factor value of 134Cs from water to Salvinia molesta proves that these plants are able to accumulate 134Cs so it can be considered to be used as phytoremediator. KEYWORDS : Transfer factor, phytoremediation,134Cs, Salvinia molesta INTRODUCTION Transfer factors have been used for many years to predict concentrations of radionuclides that could be expected in plants after accidental releases of radionuclides into the environment. The transfer factors have been developed based on the small field experiment where various radionuclides are added to the water (Korobova et al., 2007). Transfer factor is defined as the ratio of radionuclide activity concentration in plants or parts of plants compared with that contained in media (Robinson et al., 2007).Transfer factor can also be expressed as the ratio of activity Bq/g in dry weight of plants to activity Bq/L in water (Golmakani et al., 2008). The transfer factors are very useful in radiological dose-prediction models to estimate radionuclide concentrations in the aquatic plant after a release of radionuclides to the environment. However, in cases where prediction of radionuclide concentrations in the aquatic plant in large contaminated areas with an aged source term is important, the water sampling required to develop transfer factors values for a specific radionuclide for the aquatic plant. Accumulation of radionuclides by aquatic plants is a dynamic process, more models assume bioaccumulation aquatic plants are in equilibrium with either water or sediment media which exist in the environment around it. Most transfer factors from the literature do not distinguish the pathways that represent the value of concentration ratio which is also called a bioaccumulation factor (Anonimous, 2010). Utilization of nuclear energy activities allowed the contamination of radioactive materials both natural and artificial to the environment (Handl et al., 2008). Environment contaminated by radionuclides requires remedial action to reduce the concentration of radionuclide contaminants to levels that are permitted. Environmental restoration actions are popular nowadays and has been developed today is phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is recovery technology that uses various types of plants to degrade, extract, accumulate, or immobilization of contaminants in soil, water and sediments. Salvinia molesta is one plant that can be considered to be used as phytoremediator because it is able to adapt to the environment with lower salinity

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Eko Susanto et al.,: Continental J. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 3 (1): 26 32, 2012

and lower nutrient conditions (Biber P.D, 2008). Salvinia molesta has small leaves with diameter of 2-4 cm and has long and dense roots that can effectively absorb pollutants. Radioactive materials can not be degraded, so it has the potential to accumulate in plants. The accumulation in the plant could eventually endanger human case of transfer of radionuclides from plants or animals to humans through the food chain. Nuclear installation is an installation that most need attention because in the event of an accident or a nuclear facility decommissioning process, required to restore the environment in accordance with the first conditions (Grytsyuk et. al., 2006). In the event of nuclear facility accident it is possible that fission product radionuclides such as 134Cs to be released into the environment through the air. Radionuclides released can enter environmental compartments such as water, soil, plants, animals and humans that eventually lead to radiological effects on humans or the environment (Kaduka et al., 2006). In this research the transfer of 134Cs from contaminated water has been studied to be applied in the remediation of aquatic environments contaminated by 134Cs using Salvinia molesta. MATERIALS AND METHOD This research was conducted using green house and laboratory experiments method with measurements of radionuclide 134Cs in plant samples using gamma-ray spectrometer. Salvinia molesta were grown on water containing various concentration of 134Cs, i.e. 2481,8 Bq 134Cs (treatment 1); 3056,8 Bq 134Cs (treatment II); 14314 Bq 134Cs (treatment III) and without 134Cs (control). Salvinia molesta obtained from rice plants in the Bandung area were according to be selected to be in the uniform size, then acclimatized in a tank in green house for about two weeks. The plants were inserted into the pots made by PVC filled with 2.3 liter of contaminated water. Plants that have been able to adapt then transferred into 134Cs contaminated water in the pots and in not contaminated water as control. Radioactivity accumulation was determined after 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 1 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 26 days. At each time of observations, tree plants and water sample were taken from each treatment. Each plant sample then separated into the leaves and roots and then weighed using a digital balance. To obtain the dry weight, samples were dried by oven at a temperature of about 800 C until a constant weight of about 1 hour. The activity of 134Cs in the samples were measured by using a gamma-spectrometer with NaITL scintillator detectors (diameter of 110 mm). The transfer of 134Cs in plants is determined by comparing the concentration of 134Cs in plants with the concentration in water. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The 134Cs Concentration in Water Figure 1 shows the concentration of 134Cs in water from three different treatments i.e. 2481,8 Bq 134Cs (treatment 1); 3056,8 Bq 134Cs (treatment II); 14314 Bq 134Cs (treatment III) and without 134Cs (control). The concentration of 134Cs in the water has a tendency to decline. Water concentration obtained from activity measurements using a gamma spectrometer SCA (Single Channel Analyzer) in 100 ml water samples. The activity obtain from mesurements using a gamma spectrometer are lower than the activity of 134Cs from the decay products. The decline occurred due to the absorption by plants and decay of 134Cs with half live of 2.05 years (Soudek et al., 2006; Intan et al., 2006).

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Eko Susanto et al.,: Continental J. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 3 (1): 26 32, 2012

Figure 1. Concentration of 134Cs in water Concentration Distribution of 134Cs Figure 2 shows the concentration 134Cs in the leaves of Salvinia molesta. The plants were separated into the leaves and roots and counted using a gamma spectrometer SCA (Single Channel Analyzer). The concentration of 134Cs in plants is obtained strongly influenced by the activity and dry weight of plant samples and obtained by dividing the 134Cs activity by dry weight of plant samples (Golmakani et al., 2008; Anonimous, 2010).

Figure 2. Concentration of 134Cs in the leaves The value of 134Cs concentration in leaves is increasing over time until it reaches a maximum value before finally declines since it has a saturation point. In treatment I the highest concentration of 134Cs in leaves occurred at the 120 hours (day 5) i.e. 197 Bq/g. For treatment II and III the highest 134Cs concentration occurs at the day 14 which is 191 Bq/g and 1137 Bq/g. At the point of saturation the leaves have been experiencing are no longer able to increase the accumulation of 134Cs. The radionuclides were not distributed uniformly, but tend to concentrate in certain organs of the plant. The plants take up the nutrient ions, in accordance to their requirement. The elements are transported to specific tissues based on the function of the element in plant metabolism, and it is reflected in its higher concentration in a particular part when compared with others. Radionuclides can also be picked up along with nutrients and may have similar chemical behaviour as the essential nutrient.

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Eko Susanto et al.,: Continental J. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 3 (1): 26 32, 2012

Figure 3. Concentration of 134Cs in the roots Figure 3 shows the values of 134Cs concentration in the roots. The concentration of 134Cs in the roots tended to increase over time until it reaches a maximum value before finally decline as saturation point. In treatment I the highest concentration of 134Cs occurred at the 120 hours (day 5) i.e. 579 Bq/g, while in treatment II occurred at the 168 hours (day 7) i.e. 666 Bq/g. In treatment III the accumulation of 134Cs concentration was highest at the 336 hours (day 14) i.e. 2482 Bq/g. Similarly, the concentration of 134Cs in the root was also increased until it reaches the highest value. At the point of saturation roots have been experiencing are no longer able to increase the accumulation of 134Cs. The highest concentration of 134Cs distribution at roots can be understood as the roots is in direct contact with contaminated water and the water is absorbed through the roots of plants and then distributed to other parts (Soudek et al., 2006; Intan et al., 2006). The concentration of 134Cs in the roots was relatively higher than the concentration in leaves. Accumulation of 134 Cs in Giant Salvinia molesta also occurs in the roots, this is different with the water hyacinth plant accumulation of 134Cs occurs in the stems and leaves (Intan et al., 2006). The leaves of Salvinia molesta has hairy structure so that evaporation from the leaf surface is relatively small. The absorption of water is also much less when compared with water hyacinth plants are broad-leaved and smooth surface (Intan et al., 2006). The highest 134Cs accumulation point is used in the calculation of transfer factors. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 accumulated concentration in leaves and roots at 336 hours on treatment III showed the highest value of 1137 Bq/g and 2482 Bq/g. In studies of phytoremediation using aquatic plants Salvinia molesta, the largest radionuclide activity results obtained in the roots, they are consistent with the references which explained that in order to process rhizofiltration using radionuclide 134Cs accumulation value contained the greatest activity on the roots (Soudek et al., 2006; Intan et al., 2006). Value of Transfer Factor Transfer factor or bioconcentration factor is essentially the ratio of radionuclide activity concentration in the plants tissues and its concentration in the medium after reaching a saturation. Transfer factor values calculated when the plant absorbs the highest concentration, because if the concentration of 134Cs in plants has declined mean plant has undergone a saturation point. After the absorption by the roots, 134Cs then will be translocated to the leaves (Golmakani et al., 2008). Figure 4 shows the largest transfer factor for the leave in treatment I occurred on the sampling at the day 7 i.e. 145.71 ml/g, while transfer factor in treatment II and III for the leaves were highest at the day 14 i.e. 140.36 ml/g and 179.04 ml/g.

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Figure 4. Transfer factors

134

Cs to the leaves

Figure 5 shows the transfer factor of 134Cs in roots. The largest 134Cs transfer factor for treatment I and II in roots occurred on day 5 i.e. 471.92 ml/g and 549.52 ml/g respectively. Transfer factor in treatment III was highest at day 14 i.e. 391.70 ml/g. Transfer factor value after 624 hours was decline because the plant has been saturated in accumulating 134Cs. There is a relationship between the chemical forms of radionuclides and the ability of the plant to accumulate these radionuclides. Plants will absorb minerals and organic ingredients from a medium that will automatically impact on bioavailiability of the plant. The difference in physical and chemical characteristics of different plant species have a large effect on the accumulation of radionuclides in the plant (Golmakani et al., 2008).

Figure 5. Transfer factors

134

Cs to the roots

The transfer factor of 134Cs from water to the whole plant is shown in Fig. 6, and it shows that the highest transfer factor is at 336 hours for all treatment. The decline of transfer factor will occurred because the plant has a maximum capacity of accumulating 134Cs beside the increase of plant mass. There is a great variability in the mobility of different elements in the phloem: K, Rb, P, S, Mg, Na and Cl are mobile; Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn and Cu have an intermediate mobility, Ca, Li, Sr, B and Ba are considered immobile and are transported only to a very small extent in the phloem (Golmakani et al., 2008). Mobility of 134Cs element is identical with potassium which is needed by plants so that the accumulation of 134Cs in plants tend to be high.

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Eko Susanto et al.,: Continental J. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 3 (1): 26 32, 2012

Figure 6. Transfer factors to the whole plant The 134Cs transfer factor to the whole plant in treatment I and II occurred at day 5 (hours 120) i.e. 600.38 ml/g and 655.33 ml/g respectively, while the transfer factor in treatment III was highest at day 14 (hours 336) i.e. 570.75 ml/g. The occurrence of differences in transfer factors in all three treatment is expected because of differences in activity. The transfer factor value obtained are relatively high if compared with previous study in Giant Salvinia molesta. Giant Salvinia molesta transfer factor i.e. 5.9 ml/g which were grown in 134Cs contaminated water with a concentration of 11.565 Bq/ml (Intan et al., 2006). Cs transfer factor from water to water plants according to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of at least 1.9 x 100 ml/g and a maximum of 3.3 x 103 ml/g (Anonimous, 2010). The transfer factor values obtained from this research i.e. 600.38 ml/g; 655.33 ml/g and 570.75 ml/g are still in the range of the IAEA issued. CONCLUSION The result of this study indicated that the 134Cs is accumulated in the roots. The highest 134Cs transfer factor to whole plant in treatment I and II occurred on day 5 i.e. 600.38 ml/g and 655.33 ml/g respectively. Transfer factor in treatment III was highest at day 14 i.e. 570.75 ml/g. The value of the transfer factor of 134Cs in Salvinia molesta indicated high ability of the plant to accumulate 134Cs, according to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) so it can be considered as phytoremediator plant. The time when the highest transfer factor was reached indicates the best time to harvest the plants and treated as combustable radioactive waste. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank to Prof. Dr. Masno Ginting, M. Sc and Amalia Khoir for contribution in helping in this research actifity. REFERENCES Korobova, E.M., J.B. Brown., N.G. Ukraintseva and Vitaly V (2007), 137Cs and 40K in terrestrial vegetation of the Yenisey Estuary : lanscape, soil and plant relationships. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 96 : 144156. Robinson, W.L., T.F. Hamilton., K.T. Bogen, Cyntia L. Conrado and S.R. Kehl, (2007), 137Cs inter-plant concentration ratios provide a predictive tool for coral atolls with distinct benefits over transfer factors. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 99 : 181- 189. Golmakani, S., M.V Moghaddam and T. Hosseini, (2008), Factors Affecting The Transfer of Radionuclides from The Environment To Plants. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. Vol. 130, No. 3, 368375. Anonimous (2010), Handbook of parameter Values for the prediction of radionuclide transfer in terestrial and freshwater environments. Technical Report Series. 472. IAEA, Viena.

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Handl, J., R. Sachse, D. Jakob, R., Michel., H. Evangelista., A.C. Gonc, alves, and de Freitas (2008), Accumulation of 137Cs in Brazilian soils and its transfer to plants under different climatic conditions. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 271 287. Biber, P.D (2008), Determining Salinity Tolerance of Giant Salvinia Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence. Gulf and Caribbean Research. Vol 21. Grytsyuk, N., G. Arapis and V. Davydchuk (2006), Root uptake of 137Cs by natural and semi-natural grasses as a function of texture and moisture of soil. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 85 : 48 - 58. Kaduka M.V., V.N. Shutov., G.Ya. Bruk, M.I. Balonov., J.E. Brown and P.Strand (2006), Soil-dependent uptake of 137Cs by mushrooms:experimental study in the chernobyl accidents areas. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 89 : 199-211. Soudek P., S.A. Valenova., Z. Vavrikova and T. Vanek (2006), 137Cs and 90Sr uptake by sunflower cultivated under hydroponic conditions. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 88 : 236 250. Intan, P.T., Suhulman, P. Sukmabuana, Ruchiyat (2006), Phytoremediation of freshwater environment: Radiocaessium uptaake by kiambang (Salvinia molesta). Indonesian Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 07 : 83 96. Received for Publication: 24/03/2012 Accepted for Publication: 15/05/2012 Corresponding author Eko Susanto Div. of Environmental Radiation, Center for Nuclear Technology, Material and Radiomentry - BATAN e-mail : zuza_its@yahoo.com

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