Comparison of selected washing treatments on Agrostis gigantea samples from mine tailings near Copper Cliff, Ontario, before analysis for Cu, Ni, Fe and K content

Plants of Agrostis gigantea Roth collected from Cu/Ni tailings near Copper Cliff, Ontario, were contaminated by substrate particles, and also on roots by an iron hydroxide plaque. Three washing treatments were compared on shoots and six on roots, prior to analysis for Cu, Ni and Fe. K content was compared to detect leaching. For both shoots and roots, rinsing with de-ionized water was as effective as Extran-300 or ultrasound. These three treatments caused no measured leaching from shoots. DCB removed iron plaque from roots; hot or cold EDTA removed some plaque. All treatments caused leaching of K from roots.