Phytoremediation of pentachlorophenol-contaminated sediments by aquatic macrophytes

Capability of three species of aquatic macrophytes to remediate pentachlorophenol (PCP)-contaminated sediments starting with initial concentration of 2,000 μg kg−1 dw (dry weight) was investigated. Negative effect of PCP on the plant growth, chlorophyll contents and root activities (p > 0.05) of the three species of aquatic macrophytes during remediation was not observed. PCP removal was significantly enhanced in the phytoremediated sediments in comparison with the control sediments after 90 days treatment (p < 0.05), and the removal rates of PCP in the sediments planted with P. communis Trin, T. orientalis and S. validus Vahl were 90.35 ± 0.03, 99.23 ± 0.02 and 99.33 ± 0.01%, respectively, while the rate was 29.87 ± 0.05% in the control sediments. Bioaccumulation by three macrophytes was confirmed; the maximum PCP contents in the roots of P. communis Trin, T. orientalis and S. validus Vahl were 419.50 ± 0.71, 1,833.33 ± 7.37 and 2,090.00 ± 2.65 μg kg−1 at the 30th day, respectively. In conclusion, P. communis Trin, T. orientalis and S. validus Vahl may act as promising tools for the PCP phytoremediation in aquatic environment, especially S. validus Vahl.