Typha latifolia as potential phytoremediator of 2,4-dichlorophenol: Analysis of tolerance, uptake and possible transformation processes

•Cattail showed high tolerance to 2,4-DCP compared to another species.•99.7% of 2,4-DCP was removed when the contaminant concentration was 1.5-3 mgL−1.•Contaminant was removed by T. latifolia and accumulated mainly in roots.•2,4-DCP possible transformation take place in root tissue.•An increment in the GST activity of plants exposed to the 2,4-DCP was observed.

2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) is considered a priority pollutant due to its high toxicity. Therefore, it is urgent to develop technologies for the disposal of this pollutant. Various remediation processes have been proposed for the elimination of 2,4-DCP in contaminated water, however, most of them involve high costs of operation and maintenance. This study aimed to determine the capacity of remediation of 2,4-DCP in water by Typha latifolia L. wild plants. For that, the tolerance, removal, accumulation and biotransformation of 2,4-DCP by T. latifolia were investigated. The plants were exposed to 2,4-DCP solutions with a concentration range from 1.5 to 300 mgL−1 for 10 days. They exhibited a reduction in chlorophyll levels and growth rate when 2,4-DCP solutions were ≥30 mgL−1 and ≥50 mgL−1, respectively. The removal of contaminant was dose-depended, being 99.7% at 1.5-3 mgL−1, 59-70% at 10-70 mgL−1 and 35-42% at 100-300 mgL−1 of 2,4-DCP in the solution. Studies indicated that 2,4-DCP was mainly accumulated in root tissue rather than in shoot tissue. Acid hydrolysis of biomass extracts suggests 2,4-DCP bioconjugates formation in root tissue as a response mechanism. Additionally, an increment in glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity could indicate a 2,4-DCP conjugation with glutathione as a detoxification mechanism of T. latifolia.