Phytoremediation of perchlorate by free floating macrophytes (Eichornia, Pistia, Salvinia and Lemna) was evaluated in this study. Among the plants tested, Pistia showed 63.8 ± 4% (w/v) removal of 5 mg/L level perchlorate in 7 days, whereas the removal was absent in other plants. Phyto-accumulation (18.2%) and rhizo-degradation (45.68%) were identified as the mechanisms involved in perchlorate removal in Pistia. Whole plant extraction yielded 45.4 μg perchlorate/g dry weight biomass in 7 days period. High intensity of light and presence of nitrate negatively affected perchlorate removal by Pistia. An enrichment of Pistia root homogenate exhibited faster reduction of perchlorate where 100mg/L of the compound was reduced completely in 48 h under anoxic condition. A novel perchlorate reducing bacterium, isolated from Pistia root homogenate enrichment was identified as Acinetobacter sp. NIIST (Genbank JX467695).
Keywords: Perchlorate; Phytoaccumulation; Phytoremediation; Rhizodegradation.
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