Phytodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in diesel-contaminated water using Scirpus grossus

Phytoremediation using the perennial plant Scirpus grossus has been suggested as an environmentally friendly and economical method for treating contaminated water. In this study, a pilot-scale constructed wetland with a sub-surface batch system was adapted for the phytoremediation of contaminated water with different diesel concentrations, i.e., 0%, 0.1%, 0.175%, and 0.25% (V-diesel/V-water), using S. grossus for a period of 72 days under greenhouse conditions. The degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from the water by S. grossus after 72 days of diesel exposure was recorded as 81.5%, 71.4%, and 66.6% for 0.1%, 0.175%, and 0.25% diesel (v/v) treatments, respectively. S. grossus was extracted, and the results show that the maximum TPH was 223.56 mg kg(-1) in stem + leaf samples with 93.72% n-alkanes C20-C34. In the batch biodegradation experiment, the rhizobacteria of S. grossus played a role in diesel degradation in the rhizosphere zone. Hence, a sub-surface batch constructed wetland using S. grossus could be a promising solution for the phytoremediation of industrial contaminated water with diesel. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.