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Enhanced phytoremediation of PAHs-contaminated soil from an industrial relocation site by Ochrobactrum sp.

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Abstract

Nowadays, the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soil has received wide attention. In this work, Ochrobactrum sp. (PW) was isolated through selective enrichment from PAHs-contaminated soil in coking plant of Beijing, and the effects of PW on phytoremediation of that soil by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were investigated through pot experiments. Plant biomass, peroxidase (POD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, soil enzyme activity (polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase activity), and residual concentration of PAHs in soils were determined to illustrate the ability of PW for enhancing the degradation of PAHs by plants. The results showed that the fresh weight of ryegrass and alfalfa inoculated with PW was significantly (p < 0.05) increased while the activity of POD and MDA contents were notably (p < 0.05) reduced than that without inoculation. Additionally, PW enhanced the activity of polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase in soil significantly (p < 0.05), and further enhanced the degradability of the system to PAHs. Different treatment methods could be ranked by the following order according to the degradability: SP (alfalfa + PW) > RP (ryegrass + PW) > PW (PW) > S (alfalfa) > R (ryegrass). The combined action of PW and alfalfa/ryegrass could accelerate the degradability of PAHs from soil contaminated by coking plants. PW could be used as potential bacteria to promote phytoremediation of the soil contaminated by PAHs.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41877133, 41701367), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFD0801503), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (PT1906).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Congbin Xu

  2. College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China

    Congbin Xu, Lianshuang Wei & Aijun Lin

  3. Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Wenjie Yang

  4. School of International Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, People’s Republic of China

    Zeyu Huang

  5. Beijing Key Laboratory of Industrial Land Contamination and Remediation, Environmental Protection Research Institute of Light Industry, Beijing, 100089, People’s Republic of China

    Wenxia Wei

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  1. Congbin Xu
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  2. Wenjie Yang
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  3. Lianshuang Wei
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  4. Zeyu Huang
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Correspondence to Wenxia Wei or Aijun Lin.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Highlights

• Ochrobactrum sp. (PW) was isolated from PAHs-contaminated soil in coking plant.

• Biomass of ryegrass and alfalfa inoculated with PW was significantly increased.

• The POD and MDA of ryegrass and alfalfa inoculated with PW were notably reduced.

• PW notably enhanced the activity of polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase in soil.

• The combination of PW and alfalfa/ryegrass can accelerate degradability of PAHs.

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Xu, C., Yang, W., Wei, L. et al. Enhanced phytoremediation of PAHs-contaminated soil from an industrial relocation site by Ochrobactrum sp.. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 8991–8999 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05830-7

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