Effect of surfactant amendment to PAHs-contaminated soil for phytoremediation by maize (Zea mays L.)

• Maize coupled with surfactant was used for remediation of PAHs-contaminated soil.
• Surfactant amendment to the soil did not affect the accumulation of PAHs by maize.
• The concentrations of PAHs in maize grain were similar to those in some food.
• Distribution of PAHs in maize organs was not positively correlated with the lipids.

Understanding the uptake of organic pollutants by plants is an important part of the assessment of risks from crops grown on contaminated soils. This study was an investigation of the effects of surfactants added to PAHs-contaminated soil on the uptake and accumulation of PAHs in maize tissues during phytoremediation. The accumulation of phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) by maize plant was not influenced significantly by the surfactant amendment to the soil. The distribution of PHE and PYR in maize tissues was not positively correlated with the corresponding lipid contents. Remarkably, the concentrations of PHE (20.9 ng g−1) and PYR (0.9 ng g−1) in maize grain were similar to or even much lower than those in some foods. Moreover, surfactants could enhance the removal of pollutants from contaminated soil during phytoremediation, which might be due to surfactant desorption ability and microbial activity in soil. The study suggests that use of maize plant with surfactant is an alternative technology for remediation of PAHs-contaminated soils.