Effects of Grasses on the Fate of VOCs in Contaminated Soil and Air

Abstract

Plant toxicity and chemical removal tests were conducted to investigate the remediation ability of grasses with respect to volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) in contaminated soil and air. Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) were exposed to artificially contaminated soil or air containing a mixture of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) under controlled laboratory conditions. The results showed that the grasses are more severely affected in hydroponics than potted soil contaminated with a mixture of these contaminants. It was observed from the results that more contaminants were detected in the shoot and root of plants grown in a closed system with contaminated air than in an open system with contaminated soil. It is suggested from the results that grasses can be used for purification of VOCs from contaminated air especially in a closed system, but the purification effects are likely to be low. The results also suggested that the concentration level of VOCs in shoot, root, and soil could be used as contamination indicator at contaminated sites.

Turfgrass Benefits and Issues

“…Controlled environmental conditions were used to show that annual ryegrass (given as Lolium rigidum there) absorbed only low amounts (~1%) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air and soil (Cho et al, 2008). Transportation of VOCs between the roots and shoots appeared to be inhibited: atmospheric VOCs absorbed by the shoots were not readily transported to the roots, while root absorption of VOCs from the soil did not result in measurable concentrations of VOCs in the shoots.…”

Removal of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn Present in Aqueous Solution Using Coupled Electrocoagulation-Phytoremediation Treatment

“…Phytoremediation is a set of technologies that reduce in situ or ex situ concentrations of various organic and inorganic pollutants from biochemical processes performed by plants and microorganisms associated with them; they act as filters and metabolize substances naturally [15]. Among the plants recognized by their phytoremediation potential we have the genus Typha that is commonly called toads, bulrush, tule, or bejuco, which has been recognized for its ability to evapotranspire groundwater, high growth rates, broad root zone, ability to bioaccumulate organic and inorganic contaminants, and tolerance to high and sometimes varied concentrations of contaminants [16][17][18].…”

Phytoremediation with corn (Zea mays L.) and Stevia compost on soils degraded by contamination with heavy metals

“…Se entiende que recuperar suelos degradados es restablecer sus principales funciones biológicas, físicas y químicas, para lo que se puede utilizar diferente métodos y estrategias, entre estas la incorporación de enmiendas orgánicas de los residuos de las actividades agrícolas como el compost y el vermicompost ( La fitorremediación es una tecnología emergente basada en plantas superiores y microorganismos asociados al a rizósfera, que constituye una opción para la remoción in situ o ex situ de contaminantes. En ecosistemas naturales las plantas actúan como filtros que buscan remover, reducir, transformar, mineralizar, degradar, volatilizar, concentrar o estabilizar contaminantes (orgánicos e inorgánicos) en suelo, lodos, agua y sedimentos (Machado, 2007;Cho et al, 2008;Alarcón y Ferrara, 2013). Asistida con enmiendas orgánicas es un procedimiento eficaz para reducir la biodisponibilidad de los Elementos Potencialmente Tóxicos (EPTs), tanto en suelos contaminados como en residuos de mina.…”