Determination of rare earth elements in plant protoplasts by MAA

A preliminary study on the speciation of rare earth elements in plant cells has been carried out by molecular activation analysis (MAA). Mesophyll protoplasts of Brassica napus were isolated by enzymatic digestion. After being washed with isosmotic solution containing EDTA for several times, the protoplasts were purified by gradient centrifugation. Then the concentration of rare earth elements (REEs) in the protoplasts was determined by neutron activation analysis. The result shows that REEs can enter the cells of the plant.