TY - JOUR
T1 - Chemically catalyzed uptake of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by Vetiveria zizanioides
AU - Makris, Konstantinos C.
AU - Shakya, Kabindra M.
AU - Datta, Rupali
AU - Sarkar, Dibyendu
AU - Pachanoor, Devanand
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - The efficiency of vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) in removing 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from aqueous media was explored in the presence of a common agrochemical, urea, used as a chaotropic agent. Chaotropic agents disrupt water structure, increasing solubilization of hydrophobic compounds (TNT), thus, enhancing plant TNT uptake. The primary objectives of this study were to: (i) characterize TNT absorption by vetiver in hydroponic media, and (ii) determine the effect of urea on chemically catalyzing TNT uptake by vetiver grass in hydroponic media. Results showed that vetiver exhibited a high TNT uptake capacity (1.026 mg g-1), but kinetics were slow. Uptake was considerably enhanced in the presence of urea, which significantly (p<0.001) increased the 2nd-order reaction rate constant over that of the untreated (no urea) control. Three major TNT metabolites were detected in the roots, but not in the shoot, namely 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 4-amino 2,6-dinitrotoluene, and 2-amino 4,6-dinitrotoluene, indicating TNT degradation by vetiver grass.
AB - The efficiency of vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) in removing 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from aqueous media was explored in the presence of a common agrochemical, urea, used as a chaotropic agent. Chaotropic agents disrupt water structure, increasing solubilization of hydrophobic compounds (TNT), thus, enhancing plant TNT uptake. The primary objectives of this study were to: (i) characterize TNT absorption by vetiver in hydroponic media, and (ii) determine the effect of urea on chemically catalyzing TNT uptake by vetiver grass in hydroponic media. Results showed that vetiver exhibited a high TNT uptake capacity (1.026 mg g-1), but kinetics were slow. Uptake was considerably enhanced in the presence of urea, which significantly (p<0.001) increased the 2nd-order reaction rate constant over that of the untreated (no urea) control. Three major TNT metabolites were detected in the roots, but not in the shoot, namely 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 4-amino 2,6-dinitrotoluene, and 2-amino 4,6-dinitrotoluene, indicating TNT degradation by vetiver grass.
KW - Metabolites
KW - Phytodegradation
KW - Trinitrotoluene
KW - Uptake
KW - Vetiver grass
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247885936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247885936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.10.047
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.10.047
M3 - Article
C2 - 17240499
AN - SCOPUS:34247885936
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 148
SP - 101
EP - 106
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
IS - 1
ER -