PubMed · 2026-04-19
Scientists combined two laser-based scanning techniques to quickly and accurately measure arsenic levels in a fern that naturally soaks up this toxic heavy metal from contaminated soil. The new combined approach outperformed either technique used alone, making it easier to screen plants used for environmental cleanup.
Arsenic concentrations in Pteris vittata samples spanned a wide range of 88–1956 mg/kg, showing the fern's strong and variable accumulation capacity across roots and fronds.
Data fusion of LIBS and XRF spectral signals outperformed either technique used alone, improving predictive accuracy for arsenic determination in compressed plant tissue pellets.
60 biological samples were processed into 180 compressed tablets, demonstrating a scalable, rapid sample-preparation workflow suitable for field or lab screening of phytoremediation plants.
