Zinc accumulation and synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Physalis alkekengi L.

A field survey and greenhouse experiments were conducted using Physalis alkekengi L to investigate strategies of phytoremediation. In addition, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using P. alkekengi. P. alkekengi plants grew healthily at Zn levels from 50 to 5000 mg kg(-1) in soils. The plants incorporated Zn into their aerial parts (with mean dry weight values of 235-10,980 mg kg(-1)) and accumulated biomass (with a mean dry weight of 25.7 g plant(-1)) during 12 weeks. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles showed a polydisperse behavior and had a mean size of 72.5 nm. The results indicate that P. alkekengi could be used for the remediation of zinc-contaminated soils. Moreover, the synthetic method of synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles from Zn hyperaccumulator plants constitutes a new insight into the recycling of metals in plant sources. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.