Mechanisms of uptake anof uptake and storage of [trace metals] by Miscanthus - implications for growing a commercial fuel crop on contaminated land.

该项目将研究种植在受污染土地上的芒属植物作为一种商业生物质作物吸收痕量金属的基本机制。它将寻求建立从土壤进入植物的痕量金属、它们在植物结构中的分布/储存以及支撑这一过程的化学/生物化学物种的定量和定性的‘物质流动分析’。目标：这项研究的基本目标是：确定特定的痕量金属(S)，用于研究与已确定的污染地点的相关性；选择适合研究的杂交品种(抗性、主动吸收、商业相关)；在实验室使用工程生长介质建立植物体外生长试验；详细分析植物对痕量金属的吸收和储存的机制/化学；和了解生物质用作燃料的影响、其对不同最终用户的技术适宜性以及可能需要进行前处理的地方。项目交付：研究将在Terravesta Ltd的行业支持下进行，Terravesta Ltd是一家芒属植物、生物质加工商和生物质燃料供应商的商业供应商，在英国和波兰拥有权益。Terravesta将提供被认为有兴趣的杂交物种的种子/根茎(TBC)。将根据Terravesta在波兰的案例研究地点及其污染的特征来选择有问题的痕量金属。入围的物种名单可能包括镉、锌、铅和砷。该项目将有两个主要工作流程并行工作，如下：1)实验室种植的植物：将在实验室种植(Civ.Eng.)在一个受控的‘工程’生长的衬底，旨在允许观察选定的痕量金属。这些植物将受到详细的研究和分析(见下文)。2)实地研究植物：将定期从Terravesta在波兰的遗址上种植的芒属植物中取样。一个简化的分析套件将被开发出来，用一个“真实世界”的应用程序来“交叉检查和校准”实验室结果。上述“双轨”方法将确保该项目交付实际成果，并在实验室之外产生明显的影响。分析技术：将采用的分析将取决于最后确定的痕量金属清单和最后确定的分析计划(有待制定)。原则上，一些可能适用的技术实例包括：一般燃料特性(例如TGA、IC/主要无机物)；痕量金属的定量元素分析(例如原子吸收光谱仪、电感耦合等离子体质谱仪、X射线荧光光谱仪)；金属物种的定量分析(例如同步加速器XAS)；在与主管人员和Terravesta举行初步会议之后，为这项研究确定了以下先决条件：保密协议(Nb)。Terravesta已经签署了大学的标准条款，这需要会签并退还给他们)澄清/确认Terravesta材料转让协议(有待制定)数据管理计划(有待制定)对波兰的实地访问(将安排在‘18年秋季)。

This project would examine the fundamental mechanisms of the uptake of trace metals by Miscanthus grown on contaminated land as a commercial biomass crop. It will seek to establish a quantitative and qualitative 'Substance Flow Analysis' of trace metals from soils into the plants, their distribution/storage within plant structures, and the chemical/bio-chemical species underpinning this process. Objectives:The outline objectives of the research would be: Identify specific trace metal(s) for study of relevance to an identified contaminated site;Select hybrids suitable for study (resistance, active uptake, commercially relevant); Establish an 'in vitro' growth trial of plants in the laboratory using an engineered growing medium;Conduct detailed analysis of mechanisms/chemistry responsible for trace metals uptake and storage within the plants; andUnderstand the implications for use of the biomass as a fuel, its technical suitability for different end users and where pre-treatment may be necessary.Project Delivery: The research would be delivered with industry support from Terravesta Ltd - a commercial supplier of Miscanthus plants, biomass processor and biomass fuel supplier with interests in the UK and Poland. Terravesta would provide seeds/rhizomes (tbc) of hybrid species considered of interest. The trace metals in question will be selected based on characterisation of Terravesta's case study sites in Poland and the contamination therein. The shortlist of species is likely to include Cd, Zn, Pb and As. The project will have two principal work streams working in parallel as follows:1) Laboratory grown plants: would be grown in a laboratory (Civ. Eng.) in a controlled 'engineered' growing substrate designed to allow observation of the selected trace metals. These plants would be subject to detailed study and analysis (below). 2) Field study plants: would be periodically sampled from Miscanthus grown on Terravesta's sites in Poland. A simplified analytical suite will be developed to 'cross-check and calibrate' the laboratory results with a 'real world' application. The above 'twin track' approach will ensure the project delivers practical results with demonstrable impacts beyond the laboratory. Analytical Techniques:The analyses to be adopted will depend on the finalised list of trace metals and the finalised analytical plan (to be developed). In principle, some examples of techniques that may be applicable include:General fuel characterisation (e.g. TGA, IC/major inorganics);Quantitative elemental analysis of trace metals (e.g. AAS, ICP-MS, XRF);Quantitative analysis of metal species (e.g. synchrotron XAS) Pre-RequisitesFollowing initial meetings with supervisors and Terravesta the following pre-requisites have been identified for this research:Non-Disclosure Agreement (nb. Terravesta have signed the university's standard terms and this needs to be counter signed and returned to them)Clarification/confirmation of contribution 'in kind' expected from Terravesta Material Transfer Agreement (to be developed)Data Management Plan (to be developed)Site visit to Poland (to be arranged for autumn '18).