Effects of maize root exudates and organic acids on the desorption of phenanthrene from soils

The effects of maize root exudates and low-molecular-weight-organic anions (LMWOAs) on the desorption of phenanthrene from eight artificially contaminated soils were evaluated. A significant negative correlation was observed between the amounts of phenanthrene desorbed and the soil organic carbon (SOC) contents (P < 0.01), and the influences of soil pH and clay content on phenanthrene desorption were insignificant (P > 0.1). Neither maize root exudates nor oxalate and citrate anions influenced desorption of phenanthrene with the addition of NaN3. A faster phenanthrene desorption occurred without the addition of NaN3 in the presence of maize root exudates than oxalate or citrate due to the enhanced degradation by root exudates. Without the addition of NaN3, oxalate or citrate at different concentrations could inhibit phenanthrene desorption to different extents and the inhibiting effect by citrate was more significant than by oxalate. This study leads to the conclusion that maize root exudates can not enhance the desorption under abiotic condition with the addition of NaN3 and can promote the desorption of phenanthrene in soils without the addition of NaN3.