The plant availability of auto-cast platinum group elements
P S Hooda1, A Miller, A C Edwards
1Centre for Earth and Environmental Sciences Research, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK. p.hooda@kingston.ac.uk
Environmental Geochemistry and Health
|January 31, 2008
Summary
Automobile catalysts release platinum group elements (PGE), impacting roadside environments. Soil PGE concentrations, particularly palladium, were highest near roads, but grass palladium levels showed no correlation with soil concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Automobile catalytic converters are significant sources of platinum group elements (PGE) emissions.
- Roadside environments accumulate PGE from vehicle exhaust, raising environmental concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify soil and grass concentrations of PGE near road networks.
- To investigate the relationship between distance from the road and PGE accumulation.
- To explore the correlation between soil and grass PGE levels.
Main Methods:
- Soil and grass samples collected at 0, 1, 2, and 5 meters from five road edges.
- Analysis of platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), and palladium (Pd) concentrations in collected samples.
Main Results:
- Maximum soil concentrations of Pt, Rh, and Pd were found at road perimeters.
- Palladium (Pd) showed significantly higher soil concentrations compared to Pt and Rh.
- Soil concentrations of Rh and Pt significantly correlated with their respective plant concentrations (66% and 34% variability).
- No significant relationship was observed between grass Pd concentrations and total soil Pd concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Roadside soil is a primary sink for PGE emitted from automobile catalysts.
- Palladium's higher soil accumulation may be linked to its specific use, emission patterns, or soil interactions.
- Plant uptake of Rh and Pt is influenced by soil concentrations, but Pd uptake by grass is not directly related to soil levels.
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