Enhanced Scirpus triqueter phytoremediation of pyrene and lead co-contaminated soil with alkyl polyglucoside and nitrilotriacetic acid combined application

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combination of alkyl polyglucoside (APG) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on improving the efficiency of phytoremediation for pyrene and lead (Pb) co-contaminated soil by Scirpus triqueter . Materials and methods Seedlings of S. triqueter with a similar size and biomass (3 g/pot) were grown on 2-month aged soil contaminated with 184.5 mg kg −1 of pyrene and 454.3 mg kg −1 of Pb at pH = 8.3. After growth for 10 days, different doses of APG and NTA were added into the soil. After 60 days, the height of plants, Pb concentrations in plants, and pyrene amounts in soil were determined. Results and discussion Combined application of NTA and APG with lower dosage (1 + 1 g kg −1 soil and 1 + 2 g kg −1 soil) had no notable negative influence on the growth of S. triqueter . Moreover, significant synergy on Pb accumulation in S. triqueter was achieved with APG and NTA combined application. Besides, the dissipation of pyrene from soil after 60-day planting was increased in APG and NTA treatments when compared with the control treatments. Application of APG alone or combined with NTA had greater effect on enhancing dissipation of pyrene from soil than NTA alone. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the remediation of Pb and pyrene co-contaminated soil by S. triqueter can be enhanced by combined application of APG and NTA. Long-term evaluation of this strategy is needed in co-contaminated field sites.