title: Ailanthus Altissima and Phragmites Australis for chromium removal from a contaminated soil.
abstract: The comparative effectiveness for hexavalent chromium removal from irrigation water, using two selected plant species (Phragmites australis and Ailanthus altissima) planted in soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium, has been studied in the present work. Total chromium removal from water was ranging from 55 % (Phragmites) to 61 % (Ailanthus). After 360 days, the contaminated soil dropped from 70 (initial) to 36 and 41 mg Cr/kg (dry soil), for Phragmites and Ailanthus, respectively. Phragmites accumulated the highest amount of chromium in the roots (1910 mg Cr/kg(dry tissue)), compared with 358 mg Cr/kg(dry tissue) for Ailanthus roots. Most of chromium was found in trivalent form in all plant tissues. Ailanthus had the lowest affinity for Cr(VI) reduction in the root tissues. Phragmites indicated the highest chromium translocation potential, from roots to stems. Both plant species showed good potentialities to be used in phytoremediation installations for chromium removal.
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic University of Bari, DICATECh, 70125, Bari, Italy. ezio.ranieri@poliba.it.
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic University of Bari, DICATECh, 70125, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fratino
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic University of Bari, DICATECh, 70125, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrella
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torretta
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Trento, 85100, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena Cristina
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Rada
mesh_terms: D032268:Ailanthus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants; D006109:Poaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion
keywords: Drainage water; Leaves; Phytoremediation; Roots; Stems; Toxicity