Influence of humic acid on the p-tert-Butylphenol removal efficiency by Spirodela polyrhiza-Tas13 association

Abstract

Plant-microbe remediation technique is considered as a promising technology in removal of organic pollutants and its remediation efficiency is largely affected by a variety of surrounding environmental factors. Humic acid (HA) is the complex organic substance ubiquitous in environment, which characterized by its surfactant-like micelle microstructure and various reaction activity. In our study, a plant-microbe association with high p-tert-Butylphenol (PTBP) degradation potential constructed by Spirodela polyrhiza and Sphingobium phenoxybenzoativorans Tas13 has been used, and the influence of HA on the PTBP degradation efficiency of S. polyrhiza-Tas13 association was investigated. The result showed that the presence of HA greatly improved PTBP removal efficiency of S. polyrhiza-Tas13. The reason accounted for this may be due to the presence of HA promoted bacterial cell propagation, altered bacterial cell wall permeability, increased catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) enzyme activity of strain Tas13, rather than increasing the colonization ability of strain Tas13 on to the root surface. This study will greatly facilitate the application of aquatic plant-microbe association in environmental remediation.

Keywords: Bioremediation; Humic acid; Plant-microbe association; Sphingobium phenoxybenzoativorans Tas13; Spirodela polyrhiza; p-tert-Butylphenol.