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Phytoremediation of 1,4‐Dioxane by Hybrid Poplar Trees
Author(s) -
Aitchison Eric W.,
Kelley Sara L.,
Alvarez Pedro J.J.,
Schnoor Jerald L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143000x137536
Subject(s) - phytoremediation , 1,4 dioxane , environmental remediation , cutting , transpiration stream , pollutant , soil contamination , chemistry , environmental chemistry , contamination , transpiration , soil water , environmental science , horticulture , biology , soil science , ecology , photosynthesis , organic chemistry , heavy metals , biochemistry
1,4‐Dioxane (dioxane), a suspected carcinogen, is a persistent environmental pollutant that is difficult to remove from contaminated sites. This work investigated the feasibility of vegetative uptake as a site remediation alternative. In hydroponic studies, hybrid poplar cuttings ( Populus deltoides × nigra , DN 34, Imperial Carolina) removed 23 mg/L dioxane rapidly. Within 9 days, a removal of 54.0 ± 19.0% was achieved. This removal corresponded to a transpiration stream concentration factor of 0.72 ± 0.07. Poplars also effectively remediated a dioxane‐spiked soil (10 mg/kg). Only 18.8 ± 7.9% of the initial dioxane spike remained in planted soil after 15 days, compared with 72.0 ± 7.7% remaining in sterilized, unplanted soil. In both hydroponic and soil experiments, 76 to 83% of the dioxane taken up by poplars was transpired from leaf surfaces to the atmosphere, where it can be readily dispersed and photodegraded. These results suggest that phytoremediation is a viable alternative to remove dioxane from contaminated sites and should be considered for other hydrophilic contaminants.