Uptake and Bioaccumulation of Pentachlorophenol by Emergent Wetland PlantPhragmites australis(Common Reed) in Cadmium Co-contaminated Soil

Abstract

Despite many studies on phytoremediation of soils contaminated with either heavy metals or organics, little information is available on the effectiveness of phytoremediation of co-occurring metal and organic pollutants especially by using wetland species. Phragmites australis is a common wetland plant and its potential for phytoremediation of cadmium pentachlorophenol (Cd-PCP) co-contaminated soil was investigated. A greenhouse study was executed to elucidate the effects of Cd (0, 10, and 20 mg kg(-1)) without or with PCP (0, 50, and 250 mg kg(-1)) on the growth of the wetland plant P. australis and its uptake, accumulation and removal of pollutant from soils. After 75 days, plant biomass was significantly influenced by interaction of Cd and PCP and the effect of Cd on plant growth being stronger than that of PCP. Coexistence of PCP at low level lessened Cd toxicity to plants, resulting in improved plant growth and increased Cd accumulation in plant tissues. The dissipation of PCP in soils was significantly influenced by interactions of Cd, PCP and plant presence or absence. As an evaluation of soil biological activities after remediation soil enzyme was measured.

Phytoremediation potential of Acorus calamus in soils co-contaminated with cadmium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

“…It is notable that irrespective of whether a soil co-contaminant was present, a higher Cd concentration was always observed in the roots. This concurs with other studies 16 , 34 that found that Cd concentration was always higher in belowground organs than in aboveground organs, irrespective of whether a soil co-contaminant was present with Cd.

Figure 3 Cadmium (Cd) concentration in Acorus calamus was influenced by Cd, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the interaction between the two (p < 0.001) after 60 days of growth.

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Metal Uptake in Reeds from ‘Flowback’ Fluids

“…Ba, Al, Fe, Co, V). Many studies found that most trace metals were stored in roots of reeds while the translocation to shoots was limited [21,47,48]. Thus, reeds that possess large biomass and an extensive root system are a good candidate for rhizofi ltration, sequestering toxic metals from aquatic solutions with fewer contaminants remaining in the environment [49].…”