Myosotis alpestris potential for extracting metal ions during wastewater pre-treatment at ore-mining facilities

Phytoremediation and phytoextraction are seen as promising technologies which facilitate the development research on obtaining transgenic plants capable of metals hyperaccumulation. The article is devoted to the assessment of the possibilities of using Alpine forget-me-not for industrial wastewater treatment.The experiment was conducted on the industrial site of the Kovdorski GOK (Kovdor Ore-Mining Integrated Works), owned by the EuroChem Group. In 2020-2021 we assessed the content of heavy metals in plants on phyto-rafts made in the form of rectangular sheets of polyethylene foam with slots for plants. The rafts were fixed in running water at the beginning of the outlet channel, through which wastewater is discharged after primary purification. The most intensive accumulation in the organs of Alpine forget-me-nots appeared to be for physiological or essential metals, which is explained by their physiological role and the presence of membrane mechanisms for their intensive absorption. In terms of hyperaccumulation criteria, we can refer it in relation to iron, magnesium and manganese, especially when calculated for dry mass.