Potential of phytoremediation for the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated salt marsh sediments

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Ribeiro, H (Author) Other; Mucha, AP (Author) Other; Marisa M R Almeida (Author) FCUP; Adriano Bordalo (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Journal of Environmental Management

Vol. 137

Pages: 10-15

ISSN: 0301-4797

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 28 Citations

Scopus - 31 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-6CD

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.01.047

Abstract (EN): Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in colonized and un-colonized sediments by salt marsh plants Juncus maritimus and Phragmites australis collected in a temperate estuary was investigated during a 5-month greenhouse experiment. The efficiency of two bioremediation treatments namely biostimulation (BS) by the addition of nutrients, and bioaugmentation (BA) by addition of indigenous microorganisms was tested in comparison with hydrocarbon natural attenuation in un-colonized and with rhizoremediation in colonized sediments. Hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms and root biomass were assessed as well as hydrocarbon degradation levels. During the study, hydrocarbon degradation in un-colonized sediments was negligible regardless of treatments. Rhizoremediation proved to be an effective strategy for hydrocarbon removal, yielding high rates in most experiments. However, BS treatments showed a negative effect on the J. rnaritimus potential for hydrocarbon degradation by decreasing the root system development that lead to lower degradation rates. Although both plants and their associated microorganisms presented a potential for rhizoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated salt marsh sediments, results highlighted that nutrient requirements may be distinct among plant species, which should be accounted for when designing cleanup strategies.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6