Metal content in soil eluates from the area of the former alumina factory near Obrovac (Croatia) and their effect on the germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa)

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Sadržaj metala u eluatima tla s područja bivše tvornice glinice kod Obrovca i njihov učinak na klijanje sjemenki salate (Lactuca sativa)
• Author: Jana Zekirovski
• Mentor: Željka Vidaković-Cifrek (mentor)
• Mentor: Željka Fiket (komentor)
• Committee member: Željka Vidaković-Cifrek (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Tomislav Ivanković (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Gordana Medunić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivan Čanjevac (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nenad Buzjak (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-01-29, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Alumina factories are plants for refining aluminum oxide from bauxite ore. Seven soil samples were taken in the vicinity of the former Jadral alumina factory near Obrovac, and the multielement analyses revealed elevated concentrations of heavy metals, especially iron (Fe), but high levels of Mn, Cr, V and Zn were also detected. Two types of soil eluates were prepared from the soil samples using two methods - the EN 12457-2 (European Standard Batch Leaching Test) and the TCLP-2 (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure). The soil eluates differed mainly in the pH values, while the metal content was generally low. The seed germination test was carried out not only with soil eluates prepared according to the two methods mentioned, but also with eluates whose pH was adjusted to 6.5. In addition to the influence of multielement composition of the eluates, the pH value had a predominant effect on both the germination of the lettuce seeds and the radicle growth. Comparing the effects of the samples on radicle growth and the germination process, radicle growth was the more sensitive parameter. This study sheds light on the impact of the former alumina factory, by showing the presence of heavy metals in the soil and possible consequences for the environment.

Abstract (croatian)

Tvornice glinice su postrojenja za rafiniranje aluminijevog oksida iz boksitne rude. U sklopu ovog istraživanja uzeto je sedam uzoraka tla u blizini bivše tvornice Jadral kod Obrovca. Multielementna analiza otkrila je povišene koncentracije teških metala u tim uzorcima, posebice željeza (Fe), kao i visoke razine Mn, Cr, V i Zn. Kako bi se detaljnije istražili ovi nalazi, dvije vrste eluata tla pripremljene su iz uzoraka tla korištenjem dviju različitih metoda - EN 12457-2 (European Standard Batch Leaching Test) i TCLP-2 (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure). Dobiveni eluati tla razlikovali su se prvenstveno u pH vrijednosti, dok je njihov sadržaj metala općenito bio nizak. Uz navedeno, istražen je utjecaj eluata na klijavost sjemenki salate, ne samo eluata tla pripremljenih prema gore navedenim metodama, već i eluata čija je pH vrijednost podešena na 6,5. Rezultati su pokazali da je uz multielementni sastav uzoraka eluata tla, značajan bio utjecaj pH vrijednosti, kako na klijavost sjemenki salate tako i na rast korijenka. Uspoređujući učinke uzoraka na rast korijenka i proces klijanja, rast korijenka bio je osjetljiviji parametar. Ovo istraživanje ukazuje na utjecaj bivše tvornice aluminija, ističući prisutnost teških metala u tlu i moguće posljedice za okoliš.

• Keywords: EN 12457-2; multielement analysis; pH value; soil; seed germination test; TCLP-2
• Keywords (croatian): EN 12457-2; multielementna analiza; pH vrijednost; TCLP-2; test klijavosti sjemenki; tlo
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:960420
• Project: Number: IP-2019-04-9354; Title: Transport, sudbina i toksičnost metal(oid)a otpuštenih iz ležišta industrijskog otpada; Title: Transport, fate and toxicity of metal(loid)s released from industrial waste deposits; Acronym: FORtIS; Leader: Željka Fiket; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funder: HRZZ; Funding stream: IP
• Study programme: Title: Environmental Sciences-University graduate programme; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a magistar/magistra struke znanosti o okolišu (sveučilišni/a magistar/magistra struke znanosti o okolišu)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2026-01-29
• Created on: 2024-02-12 12:52:03