Phytoremediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by Abutilion avicennae

어저귀에 의한 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene의 식물상 복원공법

It has been reported that some plants have the potential to metabolize the 2,4,6-trintroluene (TNT) in contaminated soils, sediments and natural water. In this study, the effects of TNT on germination and early seedling development of Abutilion avicennae was characterized in a germination test. Concentration up to 80 mg/L TNT did not affect germination but root and shoot growth, and fresh biomass decreased as TNT concentration increased. A series of axenic hydroponical batch culture of Abutilion avicennae at various initial TNT concentration was used to determine its transformation kinetics, to identify products formed, and to evaluate phytotoxic effects on the TNT transformation process. At higher initial TNT concentrations, TNT removal rate constant decreased, however, total amount of TNT removed was increased in the culture media. Reductive transformation products of TNT were not detected in the plant culture media but higher concentrations of reduced metabolites were detected in the root and stem extracts of plant material at the 7 days of batch incubation. From these results we concluded that Abutilion avicennae has an intrinsic capacity for taking up and transforming TNT.