The aim of the research was to study a removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phytoextraction of bromine (Br) from contaminated soils. The experiments using pea and wheat seedlings as potential candidates for soil remediation were performed. The soil for the experiments was collected from a site slightly contaminated by some PAHs. Before planting, the soil was exposed to 20 mg of Br/kg of soil. In the soil taken from rhizosphere of pea and wheat, the concentrations of many PAHs decreased up to 7 times compared to the concentrations of the compounds in the initial soil. Pea was capable of more effectively influencing the soil PAHs than wheat. The growth of pea and wheat in the soil spiked with Br resulted in a significant increase of Br concentration in a plant. Concentration of Br in roots of pea and wheat increased 21 and 3 times, respectively. Bromine content in leaves of wheat and pea increased 10 and 4.5 times. This accumulation of Br in the plants led to a decrease of its concentration in the rhizosphere soil. The experimental results demonstrated a good ability of the plants to cleanup the soils contaminated with organic and inorganic compounds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)560-566
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Phytoremediation
Volume20
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 May 2018

    Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Plant Science

    Research areas

  • Bromine, low molecular weight organic compounds, pea, phytoremediation, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, wheat

ID: 26266775