Potential of Helianthus annuus for phytoremediation of lead, zinc, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminated soil

Abstract

This paper describes the results regarding effectiveness of treatment of soils contaminated with heavy metals (lead, zinc), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): naphthalene (Nap), phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Flt), chrysene(Chr), in the process of phytoremediation carried out a laboratory scale with the plant Helianthus annuus. The reason behind the work was to investigate how plant vegetation can reduce the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and how the presence of petroleum substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons affect the efficiency of their removal. The analysis was based on the dynamics of cleaning the contaminated soils which contained periodic testing on physical, chemical and toxicological properties of: uncontaminated soil, soil contaminated with TPH and PAHs, soil contaminated with heavy metals, soil contaminated with heavy metals and petroleum substances. Phytoremediation of soils and its effectiveness in pot experiments was assessed based on physical and chemical soil analyses as well as five microbiotests applying organisms belonging to three trophic levels: producers (Phytotoxkit TM and Spirodela Duckweed Toxkit), consumers (Ostracodtoxkit TM) and decomposers (Microtox ® STP, MARA). The conducted research has shown that combining the results of chemical analyzes and biological tests on contaminated soils enable a real ecotoxicological assessment of environmental hazards. Six-month long phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals (Pb, Zn), and heavy metals together with petroleum substances (TPH, PAHs), yielded results in terms of a content reduction of: lead (from of 472-495 mg/ kg dry mass of soil to 226-318 mg/kg d.m.), zinc (from 998-1030 mg/kg d.m. to 520-656 mg/kg d.m.), TPH (from 4806-4824 mg/kg d.m. to 2774-3180 mg/kg d.m.) and PAH (removal rates of Nap: at 28,0-29.9%, Phe: at 25.1-27.0%, Flt: at 24-26,3%, Chr: at 14.5-18.6%). After finishing the experiment the content of lead and zinc in the plant biomass was also measured. Based on the obtained results, conclusions were made regarding issues related to usage of phytoremediation to clean contaminated soils depending on the concentration and type of toxic substance.

Phytoarchitecture Design for Public Roads to Combat Air Pollution Resulting from Transport Operations

“…Therefore, investigation on decorative sunflower plant, Helianthus annuus, was also investigated for its ability to reduce TPH and PAHs contaminants simultaneously with Pb and Zn metals, besides being able to control heavy metals [69,70]. The combined results showed a decrease in Pb and Zn concentrations of around 50%, while a decrease in TPH and PAHs was around 35% [71].…”

Study on bioremediation of soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

“…Tests were performed in polystyrene transparent test plates. Incubation conditions: temperature T = 25°C in the dark, incubation time t = 72 h. Test reaction: germination and early root growth inhibition (Steliga and Kluk, 2019).…”

“…After 6 days of contact with the tested deposits their percentage of mortality is determined as well as growth inhibition with respect to results obtained in contact with non-toxic control deposit. The test is carried out on plates with 6 wells (3 × 2), incubation time: 6 days at a temperature of 25°C (Steliga and Kluk, 2019).…”

“…The created substances involved in this reaction are oxygen and long chain aldehyde. At the presence of substances having a negative impact on cell metabolism bacteria very quickly respond with a decline of luminescence, which after 15 minutes of contact with the sample is measured by means of a Delta Tox analyser (Steliga and Kluk, 2019). Toxicity results were calculated as EC 50 , that is such a concentration of the studied sample, causing origination generations of 50% of test -survival reaction (PE).…”

Chemometric Evaluation of WWTPs’ Wastewaters and Receiving Surface Waters in Bulgaria

“…They embody the possibility to determine simultaneously the holistic impact and the pollution effect to the environment [19]. Ostracodtoxkit F™ has had only limited application to water quality assessments [20] and WWTPs [21,22], contrary to soils [23][24][25][26][27][28], sediments [29][30][31] and sewage sludge [32,33].…”