Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils, mainly due to excessive agrochemical use, poses serious health hazards via dietary exposure, especially through rice consumption. Silicon (Si) has a strong positive influence on combating Cd stress in plants. This study introduces a novel, sustainable approach to mitigate Cd uptake in rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar) by applying silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) recovered from end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) panels - a first-of-its-kind application. SiNPs were extracted via alkaline extraction and ball-milling, then tested at 0.5 and 1 mM under 10 and 20 μM Cd stress in hydroponic conditions. The results revealed that 1 mM SiNP application reduced Cd accumulation in grains by 66.3 % at 10 μM Cd and 62.0 % at 20 μM Cd stress, compared to controls. Notably, SiNPs also increased uptake of beneficial nutrients: Cu by 30.0-57.0 %, Zn by 6.0-13.0 %, and Mg by 33.0-41.0 %. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis revealed that SiNPs accumulate in cell walls, forming a physical barrier, while soluble Si was deposited in the cytoplasm. This limits Cd translocation from roots to grains, as confirmed by significant reductions in translocation factors (e.g., root-to-shoot TF decreased by ~48.0 %). This is the first report to demonstrate the valorization of PV panel waste into agriculturally beneficial SiNPs, providing a circular economy strategy to address both electronic waste management and crop safety under heavy metal stress.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
At 10 μM cadmium stress, 1 mM SiNPs reduced rice grain cadmium accumulation by 66.3% against controls.
- Taxon
- rice
Oryza sativae0 - Material
- Doongara cultivare0
- Treatment
- 1 mM SiNP applicatione1
- Outcome
- Cd accumulation in grainse1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 66.3 %e1
- Qualifier
- 10 μM Cde1
- Comparator
- controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“1 mM SiNP application reduced Cd accumulation in grains by 66.3 % at 10 μM Cd and 62.0 % at 20 μM Cd stress, compared to controls”
Claim · model-written summary
At 20 μM cadmium stress, 1 mM SiNPs reduced rice grain cadmium accumulation by 62.0% against controls.
- Taxon
- riceOryza sativae0
- Material
- Doongara cultivare0
- Treatment
- 1 mM SiNP applicatione1
- Outcome
- Cd accumulation in grainse1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 62.0 %e1
- Qualifier
- 20 μM Cde1
- Comparator
- controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“1 mM SiNP application reduced Cd accumulation in grains by 66.3 % at 10 μM Cd and 62.0 % at 20 μM Cd stress, compared to controls”
Claim · model-written summary
SiNPs increased rice Cu uptake by 30.0-57.0%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“SiNPs also increased uptake of beneficial nutrients: Cu by 30.0-57.0 %, Zn by 6.0-13.0 %, and Mg by 33.0-41.0 %”
Claim · model-written summary
SiNPs increased rice Zn uptake by 6.0-13.0%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“SiNPs also increased uptake of beneficial nutrients: Cu by 30.0-57.0 %, Zn by 6.0-13.0 %, and Mg by 33.0-41.0 %”
Claim · model-written summary
SiNPs increased rice Mg uptake by 33.0-41.0%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“SiNPs also increased uptake of beneficial nutrients: Cu by 30.0-57.0 %, Zn by 6.0-13.0 %, and Mg by 33.0-41.0 %”
Claim · model-written summary
Microscopy showed SiNPs accumulated in rice cell walls.
- Taxon
- riceOryza sativae0
- Organ / stage
- cell wallse1
- Outcome
- SiNPs accumulate in cell wallse1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“SiNPs accumulate in cell walls, forming a physical barrier”
Claim · model-written summary
Soluble Si was deposited in rice cytoplasm.
- Taxon
- riceOryza sativae0
- Organ / stage
- cytoplasme1
- Outcome
- soluble Si was deposited in the cytoplasme1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“soluble Si was deposited in the cytoplasm”
Claim · model-written summary
SiNPs reduced the root-to-shoot cadmium translocation factor by about 48.0%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“significant reductions in translocation factors (e.g., root-to-shoot TF decreased by ~48.0 %)”
e2“SiNPs also increased uptake of beneficial nutrients”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors infer that SiNP deposition limits cadmium movement from rice roots to grains.
- Taxon
- riceOryza sativae0
- Treatment
- SiNPse1
- Outcome
- Cd translocation from roots to grainse1
- Direction
- limitse1
- Qualifier
- forming a physical barriere1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rice (Oryza sativa, Doongara cultivar)”
e1“SiNPs accumulate in cell walls, forming a physical barrier, while soluble Si was deposited in the cytoplasm. This limits Cd translocation from roots to grains”
The same questions in other papers
silicon nanoparticle · nutrient: content · Oryza sativa (rice)Results agree
4 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
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See all 5 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.