Zinc accumulation and synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Physalis alkekengi L.

A field survey and greenhouse experiments were conducted using Physalis alkekengi L. to investigate strategies of phytoremediation. In addition, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using P. alkekengi. P. alkekengi plants grew healthily at Zn levels from 50 to 5000 mg kg−1 in soils. The plants incorporated Zn into their aerial parts (with mean dry weight values of 235–10,980 mg kg−1) and accumulated biomass (with a mean dry weight of 25.7 g plant−1) during 12 weeks. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles showed a polydisperse behavior and had a mean size of 72.5 nm. The results indicate that P. alkekengi could be used for the remediation of zinc-contaminated soils. Moreover, the synthetic method of synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles from Zn hyperaccumulator plants constitutes a new insight into the recycling of metals in plant sources.

► P. alkekengi plants were used to remediate the Zn-contaminated soils.
► Zn in P. alkekengi plants were used as a material to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles.
► P. alkekengi plants absorbed large amounts of Zn from soils into its aerial parts.
► The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were not uniform.
► The mean size of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was 72.5 nm.