Effect of anionic-nonionic mixed surfactant on ryegrass uptake of phenanthrene and pyrene from water

The effect of anionic-nonionic mixed surfactant (SDBS-TX100) on the uptake of phenanthrene and pyrene by ryegrass in a hydroponic system was studied, and the influence factors including the compositions and concentrations of mixed surfactants and the compounds properties were also discussed. The results showed that SDBS-TX100 mixtures with certain compositions and concentrations could enhance the uptake of phenanthrene and pyrene by ryegrass, which could be attributed to the improved uptake capacity of ryegrass roots for phenanthrene and pyrene. SDBS-TX100 can enhance the uptake of phenanthrene and pyrene by ryegrass in a wider range of surfactant concentrations (0−0.8 mmol/L) in comparison with corresponding single surfactants, and the maximal contents of phenanthrene and pyrene in ryegrass roots were obtained with the concentrations of SDBS-TX100 around the corresponding critical micelle concentrations. The uptake of phenanthrene and pyrene by ryegrass increased with the increasing mole fraction of SDBS in mixed surfactant solutions, and SDBS-TX100 mixture with a mole ratio of SDBS to TX100 at 9:1 had the greatest capacity in enhancing the uptake of phenanthrene and pyrene, at which the corresponding maximal concentrations of phenanthrene and pyrene in ryegrass roots were 216 and 8.16 times those without surfactants, respectively. Results from this study indicate that the anionic-nonionic mixed surfactants (SDBS-TX100) would be a preferred selection for the application of surfactant-enhanced phytoremediation technology to contaminated soils. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20737002 and 40571143), National Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2003CB415004), and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (Grant No. IRT 0536)