RESEARCH PAPER Phytotests as tools for monitoring the bioremediation process of soil contaminated with diesel oil

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine changes in phytotoxicity levels during bioremediation of soil contaminated with 5% (v/w) diesel oil and find their correlation with the effectiveness of hydrocarbon degradation. Bioremediation trials were performed using a Gordonia alkanivorans S7 strain. The clean-up process was enhanced through the addition of dried fungal enzymatic preparations obtained from fungi Phanerohaete chrysosporium and Aspergillus niger. After 110 days of bioremediation the decrease in soil pollution ranged between 68 and 77% depending on treatment conditions. Toxicological tests using marker plants revealed significant differences in the phytotoxicity levels of soil during bioremediation, depending on the treatment variant. The addition of an enzymatic fungal preparation to soil was found to accelerate the rate of contaminant degradation. The rate of hydrocarbon depletion in subsequent phases of the remediation process was found to be correlated with the phytotoxicity level. The obtained results provide evidence that phytotests can be useful tools for monitoring toxicity changes during bioremediation either mediated only by bacteria or additionally stimulated by fungal enzymatic preparations.

Optimizing the use of the PHYTOTOXKIT test to assess the toxicity of soil contaminated with creosote

“…Some literature data also indicate the possibility of omitting the reference soil. The tests were carried out in this way by Wieczorek et al (2012) in diesel oil phytotoxicity studies, or by Sekutowski and Sadowski (2009) in phytotoxicity studies on herbicides. Root phytotoxicity indices of applied creosote are presented in Table 2.…”

Experimental Study on Chrome Tanned Leather Shavings Modification—Properties and Prospective for Future Application

“…According to the literature, petroleum substances, heavy metals, or other contaminants have little effect on germination. Seed reserves may have more influence on seed germination than other factors [54][55][56].…”