title: Phytoremediation potential of vetiver grass [Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.)] for tetracycline.
abstract: The presence of veterinary and human antibiotics in soil and surface water is an emerging environmental concern. The current study was aimed at evaluating the potential of using vetiver grass as a phytoremediation agent in removing Tetracycline (TC) from aqueous media. The study determined uptake, translocation, and transformation of TC in vetiver grass as function of initial antibiotic concentrations and exposure time. Vetiver plants were grown for 60 days in a greenhouse in TC contaminated hydroponic system. Preliminary results show that complete removal of tetracycline occurred within 40 days in all TC treatments. Initial concentrations of TC had significant effect (p < 0.0001) on the kinetics of removaL Tetracycline was detected in the root as well as shoot tissues, confirming uptake and root-to-shoot translocation. Liquid-chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry analysis of plant tissue samples suggest presence of metabolites of TC in both root and shoot tissues of vetiver grass. The current data is encouraging and is expected to aid in developing a cost-effective, in-situ phytoremediation technique to remove TC group of antibiotics from wastewater.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI, USA. rupdatta@mtu.edu
authors.forename: Rupali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: Padmini
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Pravin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Punamiya
authors.forename: Dil M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: Ramana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Dibyendu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001692:Biological Transport; D018533:Biomass; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D049930:Chrysopogon / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018527:Hydroponics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013752:Tetracycline