• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.38-41
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• 2001

It has been reported that some plants have the potential to metabolize the 2,4,6-trintroluene (TNT) in contaminated soils, sediments and natural water. In this study, the effects of TNT on germination and early seedling development of Abutilion avicennae was characterized in a germination test. Concentration up to 80 mg/L TNT did not affect germination but root and shoot growth, and fresh biomass decreased as TNT concentration increased. A series of axenic hydroponical batch culture of Abutilion avicennae at various initial TNT concentration was used to determine its transformation kinetics, to identify products formed, and to evaluate phytotoxic effects on the TNT transformation process. At higher initial TNT concentrations, TNT removal rate constant decreased, however, total amount of TNT removed was increased in the culture media. Reductive transformation products of TNT were not detected in the plant culture media but higher concentrations of reduced metabolites were detected in the root and stem extracts of plant material at the 7 days of batch incubation. From these results we concluded that Abutilion avicennae has an intrinsic capacity for taking up and transforming TNT.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.3 s.107
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• pp.139-144
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• 2002

Most of army depots contaminated with co-contaminants, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) and heavy metals. In phytoremediation for the TNT, heavy metals may inhibit mineralization, transformation and sequestration of TNT by the plant. We studied effect of cadmium on TNT degradation and transformation by Abutilion avicennae in hydroponic cultures. When cultured in 20 mgTNT/L and 1.3 mgCd/L, the plant displayed phytotoxicities; reduction of leaf fresh, leaf roil, chlorosis, leaf loss and fresh weight loss. Phytotoxicity was severer in the combined contaminants than in single contaminant. Because A. avicennae uptake just a little cadmium, 1.3 mgCd/L included in the TNT medium did not influece significantly TNT transformation, translocation and distribution by A. avicennae. Therefore, the soil solution containing cadmium would not affect TNT degradation by Abutilion avicennae in Army depots polluted with TNT.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2002

Most of army depots contaminated with co-contaminants. 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) and heavy metais. In phytormediation for the TNT, heavy metals may inhibit mineralization, transformation and sequestration of TNT by the plant. W studied effect of cadmium on TNT degradation and transformation by Abutilion avicenneae in hydroponic cultures. When cultured in 20 ㎎TNT/L and 1.3 ㎎Cd/L. the plant displayed phytotoxicities; reduction of leaf fresh, leaf roll, chlorosis, leaf loss and fresh weight loss. Phytotoxicity was severer in the combined contaminnts than in single contaminant. Because A. avicennae uptake just a little cadmium, 1.3 ㎎Cd/L induded in the TNT medium did not influece significanfly TNT transformation, translocation and distrivution by A. Therefore, the soil solution containing cadmium would not affect TNT degradation by Abutilion avicennae in Amy depots polluted with TNT.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.3-11
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• 2001

To select a suitable indigenous plant for the phytoremediation of TNT contaminated soil, eight representative species of native grasses were tested to identify TNT toxicity thresholds. The threshold was determined based on various factors including cumulative seed germination, root and shoot length, fresh biomass, and the amount of water uptake under various TNT concentrations. Phytotoxic effect of TNT on plants was increased with the increase in TNT concentration but the degree was varied between grass species. Concentrations up to 60-80mgTNT/liter did not affect germination of Abutilion avicennae, Echinochioa crusgalli var. frumentacea, and Aeschynomene indica. Phytotoxicity threshold inhibition (50%) of Abutilion avicennae, schinochioa crusgalli var. frumentacea, Aeschynomene indica were 5-40mgTNT/liter for root length, 50-73mg TNT/Liter for shoot length and 68-99mgTNT/Liter for fresh biomass during 14 days of seedling exposure. Root and shoot growth as well as fresh biomass decreased as TNT concentration increased. In addition, the amount of water uptake decreased with increasing TNT concentration in Abutilion avicennae and Aeschynomene indica. Comparison of toxicity thresholds for the tested grass species showed that sensitivity of plants to TNT was in the order of root length > shoot length > fresh biomass > germination rate. From these results, we concluded that Abutilion avicennae and Aeschynomene indica had tolerance to TNT among the species tested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.314-317
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• 2003

Plants may enhance the remediation of munitions at contaminated soils using various natural processes. A computer model can be used as a valuable tool for assisting phytoremediation by predicting the transport and fate of target contaminants at remediation sites. For this research, modeling of phytoremediation and bioremediation of soil contaminated with 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was studied. Indian mallow (Abutilion avicennae) was grown in columns packed with 126mg TNT/kg contaminated soils for 50 days and a simulation model was developed to simulate the transport and fate of TNT and its breakdown products interacting with plant roots in a partially saturated soil. The column test showed the substantially enhanced reduction of TNT and greater soil microbial activity in Indian mallow planted soil compared to unplanted soil. The model successfully simulated the fate of TNT and by-products in phytoremediation. The results suggested that plants could provide favorable environments for reduction of TNT.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.315-320
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• 2002

Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cadmium was studied using Indian mallow (Abutilon avicennae) in columns packed with 80 mg Cd/kg soil. At 90 days after transplat, root biomass of the exposed plants was 4 times more inhibited compared to the control. Also, shoot length of the exposed plants was 3 times more inhibited than that of control plants. Accumulation of cadmium into tissues was in the order roots> stems> leaves during the 50 days, but the order was roots> stems> seeds> leaves during the 90 days after transplant. Regardless of cadmium contaminations, microbial activities were significantly greater in soil with plants than without plants. In soil column, cadmium was not transferred toward the lower part. Uptake of Cd by plant tissues was about 3.5% of the initial bioavailable cadmium for leaves, stems, and roots during the 90 days after transplant.