Effects of mixed surfactants on the bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crops and the bioremediation of contaminated farmlands

Given the widespread contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in farmland, it is necessary to develop a technology to ensure the safety of agricultural productions and remediate the contaminated soils. In this study, a series of mixed surfactants were utilized to reduce the uptake of PAHs by crops in farming period and enhance the plant-microbe associated biodegradation in fallow period. During the farming period, the mixtures of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTMAB) and Tween 80 were attached on soil by cationic-exchange and hydrogen bond, respectively, which increased soil organic matter to partition the bio-available fraction of PAHs. The maximum reduction of phenanthrene and pyrene was 88.6% and 94.9% for chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.), and 90.6% and 91.9% for raphanus (Raphanus sativus L.), respectively. During the fallow period, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) reduced the adsorption loss of Tween 80 on soil to enhance desorption of PAHs. The mixtures of SDBS and Tween 80 increased the water-soluble fraction of PAHs in soils, modified bacterial community structure, and enriched the functional genes involved cell motility and signal transduction. Removal efficiencies of phenanthrene and pyrene in soils were high to 86.7% and 90.7%. This systematic technology provided an effective solution to remediate and plant on PAH-contaminated farmlands. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.