Determining an Optimum Tree Species for the Phytoremediation of Cumene and 4-Cumylphenol in Groundwater

Cumene and 4-cumylphenol are the primary constituents of concern in a groundwater plume at a chemical facility located in Plaquemine, Louisiana. Phytoremediation, a method that uses plants to remove contaminants from water and soil, was posed as a solution to removing the constituents of concern and creating hydraulic control of the plume. Five tree species, eastern redcedar, bald cypress, black willow, eastern cottonwood, and water oak, were chosen as potential remediators. Eastern redcedar and water oak did not tolerate the saline, contaminated water. Bald cypress, black willow, and eastern cottonwood trees were irrigated with deionized water, deionized water containing 0.5 mg·L−1 (0.5 ppm) cumene and 1 mg·L−1 (1 ppm) 4-cumylphenol as the low concentration, or deionized water containing 1 mg·L−1 (1 ppm) cumene and 4 mg·L−1 (4 ppm) 4-cumylphenol referred to as the high concentration. Both bald cypress and black willow were the best tree species for remediation of the groundwater as they were able to sequ...