title: A phytotoxicity test of bulrush (Scirpus grossus) grown with diesel contamination in a free-flow reed bed system.
abstract: In this study, bulrush (Scirpus grossus) was subjected to a 72 day phytotoxicity test to assess its ability to phytoremediate diesel contamination in simulated wastewater at different concentrations (0, 8700, 17,400 and 26,100mg/L). Diesel degradation by S. grossus was measured in terms of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH-D). The TPH-D concentration in the synthetic wastewater was determined with the liquid-liquid extraction method and gas chromatography. S. grossus was found to reduce TPH-D by 70.0 and 80.2% for concentrations of 8700 mg/L and 17,400mg/L, respectively. At a diesel concentration of 26,100mg/L, S. grossus died after 14 days. Additionally, the biomass of S. grossus plants was found to increase throughout the phytotoxicity test, confirming the ability of the plant to survive in water contaminated with diesel at rates of less than 17,400mg/L.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. israabal@eng.ukm.my
authors.forename: Israa Abdulwahab
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Al-Baldawi
authors.forename: Siti Rozaimah Sheikh
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Nurina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anuar
authors.forename: Fatihah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suja
authors.forename: Mushrifah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idris
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D029785:Cyperaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005742:Gasoline / Q000633:toxicity*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005742:Gasoline; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical