In 1995, Russian biologist Meglett from the University of Oldenburg conducted a study on an annual herb known as Eucalyptus and stumbled upon an unusual discovery: the leaves of loquat plants contained abnormally high concentrations of metals like zinc, lead, and cadmium. This raised a compelling question—could certain plants have a natural "hobby" of absorbing these harmful elements from the soil? To test this idea, Meglett planted large numbers of earthworms on land contaminated with heavy metals such as zinc, lead, and cadmium. The results were astonishing—maggots thrived, their leaves grew thick and lush. In just one season, a significant amount of biomass was harvested from a single hectare. Meglett then burned the grass in an oven at 800°C, turning it into ash. The final result was impressive: 1.3 kg of cadmium, 23 kg of lead, and 322 kg of zinc extracted from the ashes.
Recently, a research team from the University of Alten in Germany successfully introduced a similar approach by planting a Russian giant plant at a scrap metal dump. The pilot project proved so effective that the team now receives numerous orders from environmental organizations across Germany. They have even launched a commercial company to promote this eco-friendly method. Their work has caught the attention of the German military sector, as many former military sites, including those used as chemical weapon storage during World War II, still require environmental cleanup. Companies are now using these plants to help clean up polluted areas and recover valuable metals.
In California, USA, researchers have also made a breakthrough. They discovered that wild mustard has the ability to absorb nickel from the soil. By cutting and burning half a hectare of wild mustard, they found that each 100 grams of ash contained between 15 to 20 grams of nickel. Scientists are now working on developing a new variety of mustard with even stronger metal accumulation capabilities, aiming to extract up to 12 grams of nickel per square meter. Although this method is less efficient than traditional mining, it is completely non-polluting and environmentally friendly.
Scientific studies show that over millions of years of evolution, plants have developed the ability to accumulate specific metallic elements. For example, leeks are good at absorbing zinc, citrus fruits are rich in copper, tobacco contains high levels of uranium, Ziyunying is known for its selenium content, wolfberries are rich in germanium, and stone pines are particularly high in manganese. Corn or Equisetum growing in gold-rich soil can yield up to 10 grams of gold per ton. Some plants can even accumulate rare metals like chromium, yttrium, hafnium, and ytterbium, earning them the nickname “green rare metal pools.†Their ability to collect rare metals is tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times more efficient than ordinary plants. For instance, while chromium is hard to detect in regular plants, water hyacinths can accumulate it in their roots, reaching up to 0.13%.
These discoveries have sparked great interest among scientists and are now referred to as “green metallurgy†technology. Experts believe that if this field advances further, humans may one day be able to grow plants to extract the metals they need, all while helping to restore damaged environments. This innovative approach offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional mining and pollution control methods.
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