Enhancing Aquatic Plant Uptake of PAHs Using Environment-Friendly Surfactant Alkyl Polyglucoside(APG)

Abstract

Aquatic plant, Scirpus triqueter, uptake of PAHs was investigated with test time for periods of 336h. The effect of APG, an environment-friendly surfactant, on the plant uptake and distribution characteristics of PAHs in root and shoot of the plant were detected. Concentrations of phenanthrene and pyrene in the Scirpus triqueter root increased sharply at the early stage and reached the peak at 16 h, but in shoots elevated significantly and reached the peak at 48h. APG did not show any apparent phytotoxity toward the growth of Scirpus triqueter in the test concentration range. APG(≤30 mg L-1) can enhance the root uptake and root concentration factors (RCF) of phenanthrene in plant, whereas APG(>30 mg L-1) may inhibit the PAHs uptake by the plant. Results indicate that the APG would be a preferred selection for the application of surfactant-enhanced phytoremediation and optimal concentration should be determined before the application of APG.