Purification and Characterization of Molybdenum Species from Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) Grown on Mine Tailings

Extraction, purification, and identification procedures were developed for the chemical investigation of molybdenum (Mo) in freeze-dried aerial portions of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) collected from a reclaimed tailings pond at the Highland Valley Copper mine in British Columbia. The purification procedures were guided by ICP and colorimetric analyses. The methods included development of an efficient aqueous extraction protocol, sample cleanup by partitioning against n-butanol, and filtration through diatomaceous earth. Further purification was achieved by anion-exchange chromatography, elution with aqueous NaCl, and desalting by gel filtration. Final purification of the Mo-containing fraction was carried out using preparative anion-exchange HPLC. Molybdenum was found to be present in its purified form as the molybdate anion (MoO4 2-) primarily on the basis of multinuclear (1H, 13C, and 95Mo) NMR studies. Keywords: Medicago sativa; alfalfa; molybdenum; ion exchange chromatography