Studies on Phytoremediation Potentials of Vetiveria zizanioides to Sulfonamides Polluted Water

In order to investigate the phytoremediation potentials of Vetiveria zizanioides to sulfonamides polluted water, the trials with the pretreatment method of MCX solid-phase extraction column and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) detection method were implemented under the condition of greenhouse hydroponics. Sulfonamides (SAs) were added to the nutrient solution with the initial concentration of 100 μg·L^-1. The results show that the removal rates of Vetiveria zizanioides to sulfonamides (SAs) increased by 27.88% for sulfapyridine (SPY), 32.81% for sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), 29.9% for sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and 20.03% for sulfaquinoline (SQX), in comparison of no Vetiveria zizanioides treatment for the 15th day. The absorption peaks of SAs by Vetiveria zizanioides were on the 6th and 12th day, and the decrease rates of SAs in Vetiveria zizanioides nutrient solution were higher in the the first 6 days. There was a significant negative correlation between the treatment time and the residual concentration of SA_S in nutrient solution (P < 0.01), and a significant positive correlation between the treatment time and the increasing proportion of the removal rates in water (P < 0.01). The transfer coefficients were significantly positive correlated with the concentration of SA_S in the stems, leaves and roots of Vetiveria zizanioides (P < 0.01). Root systems of Vetiveria zizanioides were the main organ tissues in accumulating SAs. In conclusion, Vetiveria zizanioides are of efficient absorbing capability to SDM, strong root enrichment ability to SMZ and SQX, and efficient transferring ability to SPY. Vetiver zizanioides can significantly remove SAs in polluted water.