Catálogo de Investigaciones 2017-2018

CATÁLOGO DE INVESTIGACIONES | AÑO ACADÉMICO 2017-2018 37 Phytoremediation of Cd-Based and Zn-Based Quantum Dots by Ocimum Basilicum Quantum Dots (QDs) are semiconductors nanoparticles with a size from 1 to 10nm. The commercial applications of metal-based nanoparticles have been increasing during last years because of their optical properties. If the nanoparticles reach the environment, they could be an environmental problem due to their metal content and small size. The plants represent an important part of the ecosystem and have the capacity to absorb metals and translocate them to aerial parts. This natural characteristic (named phytoremediation) gives the plants the capacity to be used to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils. Etilendiamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a chelating agent that improves the solubility of heavy metals in soil that increase their bioavailability. Ocimum basilicum “sweet basil” is a culinary herb and was used to evaluate the capacity to absorb and translocate cadmium and zinc species from Cd2 + and Zn2 + ionic solutions and CdS/Te and ZnS/Te QDs synthetized at 180oC by microwave irradiation. O. basilicum seedlings were exposed to Cd2 + (ionic solution) and CdS/Te QDs at 25 and 50 ppm with and without EDTA; and Zn (ionic solution) and ZnS/Te QDs at 100ppm for three and six weeks. The results showed no negative effects on the growth of the plants during six weeks. High concentration of cadmium ionic and Cd-based QDs, high metal concentration was observed in the roots that indicate the immobilization of the pollutant in this part of the plant. barbara estrella martínez maestría en ciencias con especialidad en química mentor: dr. luis álamo nole phytoremediation nanoparticles ocimum basilicum basil