Chemical composition of plant silica phytoliths

0395248 - ÚJF 2014 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Kameník, Jan - Mizera, Jiří - Řanda, Zdeněk
Chemical composition of plant silica phytoliths.
Environmental Chemistry Letters. Roč. 11, č. 2 (2013), s. 189-195. ISSN 1610-3653. E-ISSN 1610-3661
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA205/09/0991
Institutional support: RVO:61389005
Keywords : Phytolith * Biogenic opal * Barley * dry ashing * acid digestion * instumental neutron activation analysis
Subject RIV: BG - Nuclear, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Colliders
Impact factor: 1.906, year: 2013
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10311-012-0396-9

Silica phytoliths are a subgroup of biogenic opal. Silica phytoliths are formed in many plant species and remain preserved in soil and sediments after plant decay. The chemical composition of fossil phytoliths may reveal ancient plant taxa, soil composition and climate. However, actually detailed knowledge on silica phytolith composition is scarce. Here we present result of instrumental neutron activation analysis of barley awns, stems and leaves, and barley phytoliths. The elements of interest were Na, Mg, Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and U. We compared three phytolith extraction methods: dry ashing, acid digestion, and acid digestion followed by incineration. We found that sole acid digestion is inefficient to remove organic matter. By contrast both dry ashing and acid digestion followed by incineration are suitable for phytolith analysis. Comparison of phytoliths with their source plant material shows that phytoliths are enriched in terrigenous elements such as Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cs, Fe, rare earth elements, and depleted in the major inorganic constituents of plants such as K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cl and Br.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0223338