The synergistic use of plant and isolated bacteria to clean up polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soil

BACKGROUND: Biological methods of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contamination elimination typically involve the transformation of contaminants to non-toxic materials by microorganisms and plants and appear to be the most effective methods available. METHODS: In this study, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus mojavensis isolated from oil-contaminated soils were inoculated onto Festuca arundinacea seeds before planting in the pot and 3 weeks after planting by syringe injection into the rhizospheric zone in order to study the elimination of PAHs from Festuca’s rhizosphere in the greenhouse. Some physical and chemical properties of the soil, PAH concentrations, seeds germination percentage, root and shoot biomasses of the treated samples were examined. RESULTS: The results showed that the treated samples inoculated with both bacteria had a significantly higher percentage of seed germination and root and shoot biomass compared to other treatments. The concentration of some PAHs reduced significantly (Pvalue < 0.05) in the rhizosphere of the treated samples inoculated with both bacteria compared to in contaminated soils. Concentrations of some PAHs (eg. Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, Benzo[a]anthracene and Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene) even reached below the detection limit of the method. The PAHs concentrations in the treated samples inoculated with bacteria was decreased significantly (Pvalue < 0.05). Therefore, the results showed the high efficiency of the Festuca and bacterial inoculation in eliminating PAHs from the soil. CONCLUSION: According to the results, the partnership of Festuca with B. licheniformis and B. mojavensis isolates displayed positive effect on PAHs dissipation and can be effective cleanup technology with high performance.