Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cadmium and/or 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Phytotoxicity, microbial activity, plant uptake and microbial degradation were examined using Rumex crispus in TNT and/or cadmium contaminated columns (TNT: 100 mg/kg of soil and Cd: 10 mg/kg of soil). The growth of plants was significantly inhibited by TNT, but not by Cd. The microbial activity was highly increased by plant root growth, decreased by Cd, and slightly reduced by TNT. The plant uptake of Cd was relatively well in Cd-contaminated column, but lowered by TNT in TNT+Cd-contaminated column. The microbial degradation of TNT occurred much faster in planted columns than in unplanted columns with minor effect of Cd (less 2-ADNT was produced). Therefore, it may be effective to treat TNT first and then Cd using phytoremediation in the TNT plus Cd contaminated sites.