Evaluating the efficiency of assisted treatments in the phytoremediation of multi metal-contaminated soil using Response Surface Methodology optimization approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz university, Shiraz, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Phytoremediation is a green, economic, and efficient tool for remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals. The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of growth regulator (GR) treatments (gibberellic acid (GA3) and indole acetic acid (IAA)), biological treatments (Thiobacillus and Bacillus subtilis), and chemical treatments (nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA)) on the phytoremediation efficiency of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal chelate, bacterial strain, and GR for maximizing the translocation factor (TF) of Cd were NTA, Thiobacillus, and GA3, respectively. For the phytoremediation of Zn, the optimal combination was NTA, Thiobacillus, and IAA. For Ni, the highest TF was achieved without chelate, while using Thiobacillus and GA3. Based on the TF values, the mechanisms governing metal uptake and translocation in maize appear to differ among metals and treatments. For example, the application of NTA increased the TF of Zn to above 1, indicating enhanced phytoextraction, whereas EGTA promoted Zn retention in the roots, reflecting phytostabilization. In the case of Cd, GA3 enhanced metal accumulation in the shoots. Regarding Zn, IAA was more effective in promoting shoot accumulation. These findings demonstrate that individual metals exhibit distinct responses even within the same plant and under identical experimental conditions, highlighting the need for metal-specific assisted treatments to optimize phytoremediation.

Graphical Abstract

Evaluating the efficiency of assisted treatments in the phytoremediation of multi metal-contaminated soil using Response Surface Methodology optimization approach

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Agnello, A. C., Bagard, M., van Hullebusch, E. D., Esposito, G., & Huguenot, D. (2016). Comparative bioremediation of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons co-contaminated soil by natural attenuation, phytoremediation, bioaugmentation and bioaugmentation-assisted phytoremediation. Science of the Total Environment, 563, 693-703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.061
Bayuo, J., Rwiza, M. J., Choi, J. W., Njau, K. N., & Mtei, K. M. (2024). Recent and sustainable advances in phytoremediation of heavy metals from wastewater using aquatic plant species: Green approach. Journal of Environmental Management, 370, 122523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122523
Cabello-Conejo, M. I., Centofanti, T., Kidd, P. S., Prieto-Fernández, Á., & Chaney, R. L. (2013). Evaluation of plant growth regulators to increase nickel phytoextraction by Alyssum species. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 15(4), 365-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2012.702806
Cassina, L., Tassi, E., Pedron, F., Petruzzelli, G., Ambrosini, P., & Barbafieri, M. (2012). Using a plant hormone and a thioligand to improve phytoremediation of Hg-contaminated soil from a petrochemical plant. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 231, 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.06.031
Fernández, L., Castaño, C., García, P., Saran, A., Lorda, G., & Merini, L. (2023). Isolation and characterization of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) from Larrea divaricata Cav., with potential use in phytoremediation of mining soils. Environmental Sustainability, 6(2), 271-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-023-00272-x
Gol-Soltani, M., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Ronaghi, A., Zarei, M., Zeinali, S., & Haderlein, S. B. (2024). Natural solution for the remediation of multi-metal contamination: Application of natural amino acids, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Micrococcus yunnanensis to increase the phytoremediation efficiency. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 26(12), 2021-2033. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2024.2372688
Guo, J., Lv, X., Jia, H., Hua, L., Ren, X., Muhammad, H., Wei, T., & Ding, Y. (2020). Effects of EDTA and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on plant growth and heavy metal uptake of hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 88, 361-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2019.10.001
Hadi, F., Bano, A., & Fuller, M. P. (2010). The improved phytoextraction of lead (Pb) and the growth of maize (Zea mays L.): The role of plant growth regulators (GA3 and IAA) and EDTA alone and in combinations. Chemosphere, 80(4), 457-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.04.020
Hadi, F., Bano, A., & Fuller, M. P. (2013). Augmented phytoextraction of lead (Pb2+)-polluted soils: a comparative study of the effectiveness of plant growth regulators, EDTA, and plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria. Bioremediation Journal, 17(2), 124-130. https://doi.org/10.1080/10889868.2013.786018
Houida, S., Yakkou, L., Kaya, L. O., Bilen, S., Raouane, M., El Harti, A., & Amghar, S. (2024). Plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from earthworms enhance spinach growth and its phytoremediation potential in metal-contaminated soils. International Microbiology, 27(2), 545-558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-023-00402-9
Keshavarz, S., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Ronaghi, A., & Mousavi, A. A. (2021). Innovative assisted phytoremediation of multi-elements contaminated soil by ryegrass: An electro-bio-chemical approach. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 21(7), 2604-2618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02961-8
Liu, J., Xin, X., & Zhou, Q. (2018). Phytoremediation of contaminated soils using ornamental plants. Environmental Reviews, 26(1), 43-54. https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2017-0022
Mansourpour, Y., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Yasrebi, J., Ronaghi, A., Baghernejad, M., & Zarei, M. (2024). Efficacy evaluation of biochar and activated carbon as carriers of bacterial inoculants in the remediation of multi-metal polluted soil. Chemistry and Ecology, 40(9), 982-1000. https://doi.org/10.1080/02757540.2024.2371013
Mohrazi, A., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Mojiri, A., & Shirazi, S. S. (2023). Investigating an electro-bio-chemical phytoremediation of multi-metal polluted soil by maize and sunflower using RSM-based optimization methodology. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 211, 105352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105352
Panda, A., Fatnani, D., & Parida, A. K. (2025). Uptake, impact, adaptive mechanisms, and phytoremediation of heavy metals by plants: Role of transporters in heavy metal sequestration. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 221, 109578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109578
Paridar, Z., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Yasrebi, J., Ronaghi, A., & Moosavi, A. A. (2024). Applicability of the sigmoid model to estimate heavy metal uptake in maize and sorghum as affected by organic acids. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(2), 3222-3238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31410-x
Razmi, B., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Ronaghi, A., & Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa, R. (2021). Investigation of factors affecting phytoremediation of multi-elements polluted calcareous soil using Taguchi optimization. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 207, 111315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111315
Ravichandra, P., Mugeraya, G., Rao, A. G., Ramakrishna, M., & Jetty, A. (2007). Isolation of Thiobacillus sp from aerobic sludge of distillery and dairy effluent treatment plants and its sulfide oxidation activity at different concentrations. Journal of Environmental Biology, 28(4), 819.
Rostami, S., & Azhdarpoor, A. (2019). The application of plant growth regulators to improve phytoremediation of contaminated soils: A review. Chemosphere, 220, 818-827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.203
Rostami, S., Azhdarpoor, A., Rostami, M., & Samaei, M. R. (2016). The effects of simultaneous application of plant growth regulators and bioaugmentation on improvement of phytoremediation of pyrene contaminated soils. Chemosphere, 161, 219-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.07.026
Shafigh, M., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., & Ronaghi, A. (2016). Influence of plant growth regulators and humic acid on the phytoremediation of lead by maize in a Pb-polluted calcareous soil. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 62(12), 1733-1740. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2016.1170812
Yin, F., Li, J., Wang, Y., & Yang, Z. (2024). Biodegradable chelating agents for enhancing phytoremediation: Mechanisms, market feasibility, and future studies. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 272, 116113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116113
Zarrabi, A., Ghasemi-Fasaei, R., Ronaghi, A., Zeinali, S., & Safarzadeh, S. (2024). Application of synthesized metal-trimesic acid frameworks for the remediation of a multi-metal polluted soil and investigation of quinoa responses. PloS one, 19(9), e0310054. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310054
Zhu, Y., Wang, Y., He, X., Li, B., & Du, S. (2023). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: A good companion for heavy metal phytoremediation. Chemosphere, 338, 139475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.13947
Iran Agricultural Research
Volume 45, Issue 2
Issue in Progress
2026
Pages 27-35

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics