Trace element content of leaves from trees growing in an acid mine drainage impacted environment

CHED 1139

Jennifer McKillop, jmckillop@mymail.indstate.edu1, Ryan C. Galloway, rgalloway@indstate.edu1, Perry J. Hardin2, Mark W. Jackson2, Matthew Bekker2, Ryan R. Jensen2, Sandra S. Brake3, and Stephen F. Wolf, wolf@indstate.edu1. (1) Department of Chemistry, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, (2) Department of Geography, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, (3) Department of Geography, Geology, and Anthropology, Indiana State University, Science Building, Terre Haute, IN 47809
We are studying the impact of acid mine drainage (AMD) on trees growing at or near the recovered Green Valley Coal Mine site in Vigo County, IN with the goal to better understand how AMD affects tree health and to determine whether methods of remote sensing can be used to identify affected trees. To achieve these goals, 88 soil and 155 leaf samples from Ash and Locust trees were collected from 120 pre-mapped points on the site. Soil pH and leaf spectral reflectance were determined at the site. Soil and leaf samples were prepared for trace elemental analysis using extraction and total dissolution procedures, respectively. The concentrations of 46 trace elements were determined in samples, duplicates, controls, and standard samples using ICPMS. The results of these analyses and the efficacy of XRF for leaf sample analysis will be evaluated.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008