Effect of enhancers on the phytoremediation of soils polluted by pyrene and Ni using Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.)

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2020-11, Vol.27 (33), p.41639-41646
• Main Authors: Liu, Xiaoyan, Shen, Siyuan, Zhang, Xinying, Chen, Xintong, Jin, Ruolin, Li, Xinyi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidic soils; Aquatic Pollution; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological activity; Dissolved organic matter; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Grasses; Heavy metals; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Nickel; Nitrilotriacetic acid; Organic soils; Phytoremediation; Piper; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pyrene; Pyrenes - analysis; Research Article; Saponins; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil improvement; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil pollution; Soil remediation; Soils; Sorghum; Sorghum sudanense; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09934-3

Remediation of heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)–co-contaminated soils has drawn much more attention; phytoremediation is an often-used technique. Sudan grass ( Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.) with developed root system and strong PAHs and heavy metal tolerance is a potential choice for phytoremediation. In this study, the application of tea saponin (TS) (1 g kg −1 soil) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) (1 g kg −1 soil) was to improve the removal efficiency of Ni and pyrene. TS and NTA had no obvious effects on the growth and soluble proteins of Sudan grass. Ni concentration in root was higher than that in the shoot. The addition of TS and NTA increased the Ni concentration in the root by 25.98% in Ni-contaminated treatment. Pyrene was mainly accumulated in the shoot of Sudan grass. Pyrene concentration in shoot increased by 20.14% with TS-NTA in pyrene-contaminated treatment and increased by 31.97% in Ni-contaminated treatment. TS and NTA had significantly improved dissolved organic matter and soil microbial activity. Microbial activity increased by 16.75%, 18.07%, and 23.364% in pyrene-contaminated, Ni-contaminated, and pyrene and Ni–co-contaminated treatment, respectively. This study showed that phytoremediation of pyrene and Ni–co-contaminated soil by Sudan grass could be enhanced by the application of TS-NTA and the interaction between pyrene and Ni impacted the accumulation of Ni and pyrene in Sudan grass.