Kuang Yan, Qin He, and Xia Yueling continued to move along the lake, hoping to find a waterway guided by aquatic plants. The first thing I saw was the water chestnut, a genus of Rhombaceae family, also known as waist water chestnut, water chestnut, and water chestnut. The leaves are broad and rhombus-shaped, with a dark bright green surface. The flowers are small and white. The flowering period is from June to July. It is generally planted in wet mudlands in temperate climates, such as ponds and swamps. The climate should not be too cold, and the best temperature is between 25 degrees Celsius and 36 degrees Celsius. Qin He placed an indicator mark on the water chestnut leaf. Xia Yueling also thought of looking at other plants ahead.
Qin He said: "This place is so beautiful, a paradise, a water garden. There are many things I have never seen before."
Although I walked along the lake, I found that many places were blocked by water plants, and there were also some small islands. There are many forks. I just want to see every fork, so I sail from the left, the middle and the right in this order. There are some trees in the middle, blocking the view. Just like this, I walked forward for a while based on my feeling, and then turned back along the edge of the lake.
However, when they returned to the location where they last found water chestnuts, they found that the plant had moved.
Kuang Yan, Qin He, and Xia Yueling were confused and disappointed because they had previously believed that marking the location of the water chestnut would lead them to their destination. Now, they need to look for new clues.
Kuang Yan suggested that they try to observe the ripples and direction of the lake to see if they can find any other clues. Qin He and Xia Yueling agreed with this idea, and they began to pay attention to the changes and flow of the lake water.
After walking for a while, Qin He suddenly noticed a piece of duckweed moving slightly in the lake. He quickly told Kuang Yan and Xia Yueling, and they immediately followed Duckweed.
After floating in the lake for a while, the duckweed suddenly stopped in one place. Kuang Yan, Xia Yueling, and Qin He nervously walked around Duckweed and began to look for any other clues.
Not far away, Qin He discovered an algae plant with entangled roots. When they took a closer look, they discovered that the algae plants were growing in a slightly sunken area. On it lay the waterway sign they had been looking for.
Kuang Yan, Xia Yueling, and Qin He mustered up the courage to cross over the algae and entered a more spacious waterway. They felt a cool breeze, heard the sound of running water, and knew they had found a new waterway.
Walk around this area a few times, and then look for aquatic plants that are said to be able to absorb toxins.
To determine which aquatic plants can absorb toxins and purify water, consider the following factors: Plant growth characteristics: Choose aquatic plants that grow quickly and have well-developed root systems, as they generally have better absorption capabilities. Plant adaptability: Choose aquatic plants that can adapt to different water conditions, as different water conditions may contain different types of toxins. Ecological functions of plants: Understand the ecological functions of aquatic plants, such as oxygen release, decomposition of organic matter, etc. These features also help purify water. Other factors: Consider other factors, such as the plant’s growth cycle, ease of maintenance, etc.
They saw a plant from a distance.
Qin He said: "It's a bit like amaranth."
Kuang Yan said: "But it is a plant in the water."
Qin He said: "This plant has been seen in several polluted areas. It has a short growth cycle. Let's test its ability to decompose organic matter."
Kuang Yan said: "We need to take it back and try it."
The leaves are oval in shape. The leaves are dark green in color with red and purple veins. The leaves have a smooth surface, soft texture, and fine edges. The whole plant has a clustered shape, with slender and multi-branched stems, and red and purple pigments in some places. The fruit is coffee-shaped and oblong, wrapped in petals.
Qin He asked: "What is the name of this plant?"
Kuang Yan said: "Pure amaranth. I have never seen it before. This aquatic plant can purify water quality and remove toxins in water sources."
Qin He said: "What's the difference between it and water hyacinth? Aren't they both absorbing toxins?"
Kuang Yan said: "The toxins absorbed by water hyacinth cannot be processed by themselves and cause mutations. Amaranth can be absorbed and stably stored in a specific location, possibly the rhizome."
They marked the location and told the biology laboratory staff to find these plants and do some cultivation.
They carefully transplanted the aquatic plants that had absorbed the toxin back to the biological laboratory to extract the toxin.
Choose the right plants: You need to choose plants that contain the toxin of interest. Gather plant material: Collect leaves, stems, roots or other parts of selected plants. Make sure the plant material is fresh and not contaminated. Wash the plant material: Wash the plant material thoroughly with clean water to remove surface dirt and impurities. Grind the plant material: Grind the washed plant material into a fine powder. This can be done by using a mortar, blender or grinder. Extract toxins: Mix plant powder with an appropriate solvent (such as corylol, water, or ether) to extract the target toxin. This can be done by soaking, stirring or sonication to promote the release of toxins. Filter the extract: Filter the extract through filter paper or membrane to remove plant residues and solid particles. Concentrate the extract: Concentrate the filtered extract to reduce the volume of the solvent. This can be accomplished by evaporating the solvent or using an evaporator. Purifying the extract: If purification of the target toxin is required, the extract can be isolated and purified using chromatographic techniques such as column chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, or gas chromatography. Detection and Analysis: Finally, the extract is detected and analyzed using mass spectrometry, NMR, or spectroscopic techniques to confirm the presence and concentration of the target toxin.
It is important to note that the process of extracting absorbed toxins from a plant may vary depending on the nature of the toxin and the characteristics of the plant. To ensure safety, operate under appropriate laboratory conditions and follow safe operating procedures.
Hao Xiu said: "It's the element of black."
Qin He said: "There is no such element on the periodic table."
"Yes. It's toxic. That's what we're calling it for now. It's very toxic."
Laboratory staff then transplanted the plants into the lake.
After a while, the toxins in the sewage are absorbed. The mutation of water hyacinth stopped. No toxins are spread into the forest, and no toxic spores are produced. The amaranth is collected back and processed centrally.
