Improvement of the hydrocarbon phytoremediation rate by Cyperus laxus Lam. inoculated with a microbial consortium in a model system

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 405 - 413
• Main Authors: Escalante-Espinosa, E., Gallegos-Martínez, M.E., Favela-Torres, E., Gutiérrez-Rojas, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aluminum Oxide; Applied sciences; Bacteria - metabolism; biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Bioreactors; bioremediation; Biotechnology; Colony Count, Microbial; Cyperus; Cyperus - metabolism; Cyperus - microbiology; Cyperus - physiology; Cyperus laxus; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi - metabolism; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Inoculum; Laxus; Mexico; Miscellaneous; Native plant; petroleum; Phytoremediation; plant development; Plant Roots - growth & development; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; rhizosphere; Silicon Dioxide; Soil and sediments pollution; soil bacteria; soil fungi; soil inoculation; soil microorganisms; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; soil pollution; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Hydrocarbons; Native plant; Phytoremediation; Inoculum; Monocotyledones; Hydrocarbon; Soil pollution; Microbial biomass; Petroleum; Fungi; Rhizosphere; Inoculation; Decontamination; Angiospermae; Cyperaceae; Bacteria; Marsh; Spermatophyta; Bioremediation; Native species; Organic compounds; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.10.034

Hydrocarbon phytoremediation by Cyperus laxus Lam. growing on perlite and inoculated with hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms was evaluated. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were extracted from weathered soil (60.7 g of TPH kg −1 of dry soil) and spiked on perlite at initial concentration of 5 g of TPH kg −1 of dry perlite. Phenological characteristics, total microbial viable counts, hydrocarbon degraders and residual hydrocarbons were determined through 180 days of culture. Phenological characteristics of inoculated plants were improved as compared with non-inoculated plants: root biomass was 1.6 times greater, flowering time was reduced (13%), and the number of inflorescences was 1.5 times higher. The rhizospheric bacterial and fungi counts were higher for planted treatments (inoculated and not inoculated) than for unplanted pots. The maximum phytoremediation rate (0.51 mg of TPH g −1 of dry plant d −1) for inoculated plants was reached at 60 days of culture, and was two times higher than for non-inoculated plants (55% TPH removal). Similar hydrocarbon phytoremediation extent values for inoculated (90%) and non-inoculated (85%) plants were obtained at 180 days of culture. The present study demonstrated that mutual benefits between C. laxus and inoculated hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms are improved during phytoremediation. It is pertinent to note that this is the first report of hydrocarbon phytoremediation by Cyperus laxus Lam., a native plant growing in highly contaminated swamps.