两级自养反硝化实现垃圾渗滤液的深度脱氮

针对目前生物工艺难以解决垃圾渗滤液深度脱氮的问题,探究了短程硝化反硝化-厌氧氨氧化-硫自养反硝化(两级自养)工艺处理高氨氮、低C/N比垃圾渗滤液的脱氮效果。结果表明, 当进水垃圾渗滤液中氨氮平均浓度为2 560 mg·L⁻¹,COD值为4 000~5 000 mg·L⁻¹时,经过短程硝化反硝化-厌氧氨氧化处理后,总氮去除负荷可达1.19 kg·(m³·d)⁻¹、总氮去除率可达93.1%(出水TN=176.3 mg·L⁻¹)、COD去除率可达52.2%。但是,厌氧氨氧化反应器出水中${\rm{NO}}_x^{-} $-N浓度为154.5 mg·L⁻¹,仍未达到我国生活垃圾填埋场垃圾渗滤液处理排放标准(TN≤40 mg·L⁻¹)。在厌氧氨氧化反应器之后串联硫自养反硝化,整体工艺最终出水${\rm{NH}}_4^{+} $-N、${\rm{NO}}_2^{-} $-N、${\rm{NO}}_3^{-} $-N平均浓度分别为1.9、0.6、9.7 mg·L⁻¹,TN≤15 mg·L⁻¹,进水总氮去除率为99.5%。在短程硝化反硝化-厌氧氨氧化-硫自养反硝化两级自养深度脱氮反应系统中实现了垃圾渗滤液深度脱氮。     

C/N比对ANAMMOX与反硝化协同脱氮性能影响及其动力学

采用ASBR厌氧氨氧化(ANAMMOX)反应器,考察了不同C/N(NH4+-N)比时厌氧氨氧化与反硝化协同脱氮性能表现,并与无机环境下反应器的脱氮性能相比较。研究结果表明,C/N比决定了ANAMMOX/反硝化耦合反应的发展方向。当C/N4+-N和NO2--N的去除率分别为92%、95%、COD去除率大于96%,实现了氨氮及COD的同时去除;当C/N=1.33时,反硝化反应逐渐占据优势;当C/N>2.96时,反硝化作用成为主导反应,厌氧氨氧化反应受到明显抑制,氨氮去除率下降。采取批次实验方法研究了厌氧氨氧化与反硝化协同反应的动力学特性。用基质抑制动力学Haldane模型拟合不同基质浓度下的厌氧氨氧化活性,得到氨氮最大比增长速率为0.09 kg/(kg·d)(以VSS计),半饱和常数为8.4 mg/L、半抑制常数为1 198.2 mg/L;亚硝态氮最大比增长速率为0.27 kg/(kg·d)(以VSS计),半饱和常数为10.2 mg/L、半抑制常数为300.1 mg/L。采用Monod模型和Haldane模型分别拟合不同COD浓度和亚硝酸盐浓度下的反硝化性能,得到反硝化亚硝态氮最大比增长速率为0.2 kg/(kg VSS·d),半饱和常数为17.4 mg/L、半抑制常数为128.4 mg/L,COD半饱和常数为83.3 mg/L。     

微电解强化微生物菌种对高氨氮低碳氮比黑臭水的脱氮研究

针对高氨氮低碳氮比(C/N)黑臭水进行脱氮研究,通过硝化菌和反硝化菌共同作用,并在后期耦合铁碳微电解(IC-ME)强化脱氮。单因素控制变量实验表明,硝化菌和反硝化菌在30℃硝化/反硝化效果较优,平均氨氮去除率为71.62%,硝态氮去除率可达到67.52%;在溶解氧(DO)为3 mg/L时硝化效果较好,平均氨氮去除率达到了70.08%;在后期投加150 g/L铁碳填料时,反硝化效果最好,2#和3#反应器硝态氮去除率最高分别提高到了81.78%和91.17%。长时间运行反应器后,氨氮去除负荷达到0.193 kg/(m³·d),化学需氧量(COD)去除负荷达到1.786 kg/(m³·d)。单独的微生物菌种针对高氨氮低C/N黑臭水脱氮还有一定的局限性,通过后期耦合IC-ME,脱氮效率明显提升,总氮(TN)去除率可从45.65%提升到58.91%。     

MFC强化同步短程硝化反硝化工艺的启动

微生物燃料电池(MFC)可在阴极实现反硝化、短程反硝化和同步硝化反硝化并产生电能,但在MFC阴极实现同步短程硝化反硝化的研究尚未见到报道。为了探讨MFC阴极同步短程硝化反硝化工艺的性能,将双室曝气阴极MFC与A/O脱氮工艺结合处理人工模拟低碳氮比废水。通过静置运行15 d使得MFC阴极室亚硝态氮得以积累,氨氧化菌得以富集。随即改为连续运行后第21天成功启动同步短程硝化反硝化MFC;阴极出水氨氮浓度为0.3 mg/L,亚硝态氮浓度为15.9 mg/L,硝态氮浓度为0.6 mg/L,亚硝化率达到95%以上,阴极电极自养反硝化去除率达到50%以上,COD去除率达到85%以上。结果表明,将MFC与同步短程硝化反硝化工艺结合,通过阴极室中氧气得电子获得高pH,可以强化同步短程硝化反硝化工艺,完成生物脱氮的同时回收电能,并具有减少外加碱度的优势。     

曝气生物流化床处理高氨氮粪便污水

应用好氧曝气生物流化床反应器处理动车集便器粪便污水,研究反应器同步硝化反硝化脱氮及去除COD效能,以及DO对处理效能的影响,通过镜检观察反应器内微生物特性,探究反应器同步硝化反硝化脱氮机理。结果表明,反应器维持DO在2.5 mg/L左右时,对粪便污水中氨氮、TN和COD的去除率分别达99.8%、84.1%和95.5%,在好氧曝气生物流化床反应器中,实现同步硝化反硝化脱氮并去除有机物。分析认为,反硝化脱氮主要发生在生物膜内的厌氧微环境,反硝化反应主要由厌氧反硝化菌完成,曝气生物流化床反应器同步硝化反硝化脱氮机理主要从微环境理论解释。     

一段式短程反硝化耦合厌氧氨氧化工艺处理厌氧膜生物反应器出水

采用移动床生物膜反应器,通过一段式短程硝化-厌氧氨氧化耦合短程反硝化工艺处理主流厌氧消化出水。在溶解氧浓度(DO)维持在(1.45 ± 0.15)mg·L⁻¹的条件下,出水TN低至(10.7 ± 2.4）mg·L⁻¹、${{\rm{NH}}_4^{+}} $-N转化率达到(86.8 ± 4.5)%,平均TN去除率为(78.9 ± 4.9)% (最高达84.0%)、TN去除负荷为0.38 kg·(m³·d)⁻¹。分析氮的去除路径表明,低浓度有机物诱导反硝化菌主要发生短程反硝化,耦合系统脱氮贡献主要来源于厌氧氨氧化。在载体上,生物膜实现了厌氧氨氧化菌的有效富集,其中菌的活性为873.9 mg·(g·d)⁻¹;而氨氧化细菌主要存在于絮体污泥中,占总菌比例为(38.7 ± 5.9)%;亚硝酸盐氧化细菌则仅占(7.8 ± 2.8)%,说明其受到一定程度抑制。本研究结果可为anammox在主流厌氧消化出水深度处理中的应用提供参考。     

基于天然椰丝纤维填料的低氨氮废水SNAP系统自然挂膜构建

针对低氨氮废水单级自养脱氮工艺(SNAP)系统的构建需要接种特殊种源且工程应用复杂的问题,采用生物亲和性好的天然椰丝纤维为填料,开展了低氨氮废水SNAP系统自然挂膜构建实验,考察了进水COD/TN对系统脱氮效能及脱氮路径的影响。结果表明：在温度为(30±1) ℃、进水氮负荷为0.1 kg·(m3·d)−1时,采用自然挂膜以及进水${\rm{NH}}_4^{+} $-N质量浓度梯度递减(由(100±3) mg·L−1降至(50±2) mg·L−1)的运行方式,经过85 d的运行,初步构建出低氨氮废水SNAP系统;该系统${\rm{NH}}_4^{+} $-N和TN去除率分别为94.58%和70.07%;系统脱氮功能菌属主要有Nitrosomonas、Candidatus Brocadia。此外,进水COD/TN对系统脱氮效能及脱氮路径影响显著。当进水COD/TN分别为0、0.2、0.5、1、2时,系统TN平均去除率分别为70.07%、72.09%、75.18%、82.19%、62.19%;对于低氨氮废水,当COD/TN≤0.2时,系统主要脱氮路径为厌氧氨氧化;当COD/TN为0.5~1.5时,系统脱氮路径以短程硝化反硝化为主,厌氧氨氧化为辅;当COD/TN≥2 时,系统通过短程硝化反硝化、厌氧氨氧化路径脱氮能力进一步降低。     

主流程厌氧氨氧化耦合多种脱氮途径处理市政污水

采用厌氧-好氧-缺氧推流反应器,研究实现低碳氮比主流程厌氧氨氧化(anammox)耦合多种脱氮途径的启动条件,并对脱氮途径进行分析。首先进行短程硝化驯化启动,接着在缺氧池投加填料以及接种厌氧氨氧化细菌(AnAOB),进行主流程anammox工艺脱氮。结果表明,好氧池DO约为1.5 mg·L⁻¹时,NH₄⁺-N去除率为80%,亚硝氮积累率为50%,短程硝化驯化启动成功。AnAOB接种启动后,在维持缺氧池DO为0.3~0.5 mg·L⁻¹,缺氧池NH₄⁺-N去除量为好氧池的3倍时,可实现进水C/N为2,出水总无机氮 (TIN) 低于6 mg·L⁻¹,NH₄⁺-N去除率>95%,这表明anammox驯化启动成功。分析缺氧池氮素变化情况表明缺氧池存在anammox及反硝化多种脱氮途径。高通量测序结果可确定Candidatus Kuenenia和Candidatus Brocadia等AnAOB菌属及Denitratisoma(反硝化菌)在缺氧池中显著存在,从微生物种群角度解析了anammox及反硝化等多种脱氮途径,使出水TIN<6 mg·L⁻¹。该工艺可调控主流程anammox耦合多种脱氮途径,为低C/N市政污水深度脱氮提供可行的技术途径。     

SBR单级自养脱氮系统氮素转化途径

利用氮素计量关系和批式实验研究了SBR系统中基于短程硝化的单级自养脱氮特性和脱氮途径。结果表明,SBR系统获得良好脱氮效果,TN最高去除负荷和去除速率分别达0.49 kg N/(m3·d)和0.20 kg N/(kg VSS·d);系统中82%的氨氮转化成气体脱除,10%的氨氮转化成硝酸盐氮。批式实验结果表明,SBR系统中的污泥同时具有厌氧氨氧化、亚硝酸盐氧化和自养反硝化活性,三者的反应速率分别为0.12 kg NH4+-N/(kg VSS·d)、0.04 kg NO2--N/(kg VSS·d)和0.03 kg NO2--N/(kg VSS·d)。综上,SBR系统中氮的脱除是短程硝化、厌氧氨氧化和反硝化共同作用的结果,产生的硝酸盐是厌氧氨氧化和硝化作用所致。     

溶解氧和有机碳源对同步硝化反硝化的影响

利用SBR反应器,探讨了溶解氧(DO)和有机碳源(COD)对同步硝化好氧反硝化的影响.结果表明,DO范围在0.5～0.6 mg/L时最适合于同步硝化好氧反硝化脱氮.在同步硝化反硝化过程中出现了亚硝酸盐氮的积累,推断经由短程硝化反硝化途径.总氮的去除率随着COD/N(碳氮比)的增加而增加,当COD/N为10.05时,总氮去除率最高可达70.39%.继续增加碳氮比时,总氮去除率增加不多,并且还会导致硝化作用不完全.当存在足够的易降解有机碳源时,能发生完全的好氧反硝化作用.     

Chloroaromatic pollutants in mussels incubated in two finnish watercourses polluted by industry

Concentrations of different chlorinated compounds were measured in mussels incubated in two polluted watercourses, a river (the River Kymijoki) and a lake (Lake Vanaja) for four weeks in summer 1995. The sum concentrations of polychlorinated phenols (PCP) and biphenyls (PCB) were both about 1 μg/g lipid weight (lw) in Lake Vanaja mussels, while in the River Kymijoki mussels PCPs were non-detectable and PCBs were measured 120 ng/g lIw. The concentrations of toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners ranged between <17 and 370 pg/g Iw in Lake Vanaja mussels and between <38 and 11,000 pg/g lw in the River Kymijoki mussels. Polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDE) were detected in the mussels incubated in the River Kymijoki (0.4–1.1 ng/g Iw), but not in those incubated in Lake Vanaja. Polychlorinated phenoxyanisoles (PCPA) were measured 33 ng/g lw and polychlorinated phenoxyphenols (PCPP) 300 ng/g lw in the mussels incubated in the River Kymijoki. PCPAs were also detected in reference samples, which were sediment and pike from the River Kymijoki and Baltic salmon, seal and white-tailed sea eagle.     

Book review

The Pesticide Manual ‐ A World Compendium, 8th Edition, C.R. Worthing, Editor and S.B. Walker, Assistant Editor, British Crop Protection Council, BCPC Publications Sales, Bear Farm, Binfield, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 5QE, England. 1987, 1100 pp., UK £50; Overseas £56. ISBN 0–948404–01–9.     

Organochlorine compounds in a three-step terrestrial food chain

The concentrations of 15 organochlorine chemicals (PCBs and pesticides) were studied in a Central European oak wood food chain system: Great tit (Parus major), caterpillars (Tortrix viridana, Operophtera brumata, Erannis defoliaria), and oak-leaves (Quercus robur). Juvenile tits receive organochlorines from the mother via egg transfer and, eventually to a greater extent, from the caterpillar food source during nestling period. The concentrations of PCB 153 (2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl, the most abundant in this study) was found in leaf material at ca. 1 ng/g, in caterpillars 10 ng/g, and in bird eggs 170 ng/g on an average and on a dry mass basis.     

The chemical stability of formulations of some hydrolyzable insecticides in aqueous mixtures with hydrolysis catalysts

Abstract

The active ingredients in commercial formulations of malathion, oxamyl, carbaryl, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos diluted to “spray tank”; concentrations with buffered distilled or natural water of pH 4–9 were stable for at least 24 hr. Formulations of trichlorfon were not stable at pH 7 or above but disappearance rates were slower than for the pure chemical in homogeneous solution. Cupric ion was observed to be an effective catalyst for the hydrolysis of a variety of pure organophosphorus insecticides but did not catalyze hydrolysis of the active ingredients of the formulations examined. Increasing the dilution of the formulation increased the susceptibility of malathion, oxamyl, and carbaryl to hydrolysis.     

Observations on the influence of water and soil pH on the persistence of insecticides

Abstract

The pH‐disappearance rate profiles were determined at ca. 25°C for 24 insecticides at 4 or 5 pH values over the range 4.5 to 8.0 in sterile phosphate buffers prepared in water‐ethanol (99: 1 v/v). Half‐lives measured at pH 8 were generally smaller than at lower pH values. Changes in half lives between pH 8.0 and 4.5 were largest (>1000x) for the aryl carbamates, carbofuran and carbaryl, the oxime carbamate, oxamyl, and the organophosphorus insecticide, trichlorfon. In contrast, half lives of phorate, terbufos, heptachlor, fensulfothion and aldicarb were affected only slightly by pH changes. Under the experimental conditions described half lives at pH8 varied from 1–2 days for trichlorfon and oxamyl to >1 year for fensulfothion and cyper‐methrin. Insecticide persistence on alumina (acid, neutral and basic), mineral soils amended with aluminum sulfate or calcium hydroxide to different pH values and four natural soils of different pH was examined. No correlation was observed between the measured pH of these solids and the rate of disappearance of selected insecticides applied to them. These observations demonstrate the difficulty of extrapolating the pH dependent disappearance behaviour observed in homogeneous solution to partially solid heterogeneous systems such as soil.     

Radionuclides in pinon pine (Pinus edulis) nuts from los alamos national laboratory lands and the dose from consumption

Abstract

One of the dominant tree species growing within and around the eastern portion of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM, lands is the pinon pine (Pinus edulis). Pinon pine is used for firewood, fence posts, and building materials and is a source of nuts for food—the seeds are consumed by a wide variety of animals and are also gathered by people in the area and eaten raw or roasted. This study investigated the (1) concentration of ³H, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ^totU, ²³⁸Pu, ^{239, 240}Pu, and²⁴¹ Am in soils (0‐ to 12‐in. [31 cm] depth underneath the tree), pinon pine shoots (PPS), and pinon pine nuts (PPN) collected from LANL lands and regional background (BG) locations, (2) committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) from the ingestion of nuts, and (3) soil to PPS to PPN concentration ratios (CRs). Most radionuclides, with the exception of ³H in soils, were not significantly higher (p < 0.10) in soils, PPS, and PPN collected from LANL as compared to BG locations, and concentrations of most radionuclides in PPN from LANL have decreased over time. The maximum net CEDE (the CEDE plus two sigma minus BG) at the most conservative ingestion rate (10 lb [4.5 kg]) was 0.0018 mrem (0.018 μSv); this is far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (all pathway) permissible dose limit of 100 mrem (1000 μSv). Soil‐to‐nut CRs for most radionuclides were within the range of default values in the literature for common fruits and vegetables.     

Degradation and sorption of imidacloprid in dissimilar surface and subsurface soils

Degradation and sorption/desorption are important processes affecting the leaching of pesticides through soil. This research characterized the degradation and sorption of imidacloprid (1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)-methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine) in Drummer (silty clay loam) and Exeter (sandy loam) surface soils and their corresponding subsurface soils using sequential extraction methods over 400 days. By the end of the incubation, approximately 55% of imidacloprid applied at a rate of 1.0 mg kg^?1 degraded in the Exeter sandy loam surface and subsurface soils, compared to 40% of applied imidacloprid within 300 days in Drummer surface and subsurface soils. At the 0.1 mg kg^?1 application rate, dissipation was slower for all four soils. Water-extractable imidacloprid in Exeter surface soil decreased from 98% of applied at day 1 to > 70% of the imidacloprid remaining after 400 d, as compared to 55% in the Drummer surface soil at day 1 and 12% at day 400. These data suggest that imidacloprid was bioavailable to degrading soil microorganisms and sorption/desorption was not the limiting factor for biodegradation. In subsurface soils > 40% of ¹⁴C-benzoic acid was mineralized over 21 days, demonstrating an active microbial community. In contrast, cumulative ¹⁴CO₂ was less than 1.5% of applied ¹⁴C-imidacloprid in all soils over 400 d. Qualitative differences in the microbial communities appear to limit the degradation of imidacloprid in the subsurface soils.     

Evaluation of trichloroethene recovery processes in heterogeneous aquifer cells flushed with biodegradable surfactants

The ability of two biodegradable surfactants, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate (Aerosol MA), to recover a representative dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL), trichloroethene (TCE), from heterogeneous porous media was evaluated through a combination of batch and aquifer cell experiments. An aqueous solution containing 3.3% Aerosol MA, 8% 2-propanol and 6 g/l CaCl(2) yielded a weight solubilization ratio (WSR) of 1.21 g TCE/g surfactant, with a corresponding liquid-liquid interfacial tension (IFT) of 0.19 dyn/cm. Flushing of aquifer cells containing a TCE-DNAPL source zone with approximately two pore volumes of the AMA formulation resulted in substantial (>30%) mobilization of TCE-DNAPL. However, a TCE mass recovery of 81% was achieved when the aqueous-phase flow rate was sufficient to displace the mobile TCE-DNAPL toward the effluent well. Aqueous solutions of Tween 80 exhibited a greater capacity to solubilize TCE (WSR=1.74 g TCE/g surfactant) and exerted markedly less reduction in IFT (10.4 dyn/cm). These data contradict an accepted empirical correlation used to estimate IFT values from solubilization capacity, and indicate a unique capacity of T80 to form concentrated TCE emulsions. Flushing of aquifer cells with less than 2.5 pore volumes of a 4% T80 solution achieved TCE mass recoveries ranging from 66 to 85%, with only slight TCE-DNAPL mobilization (<5%) occurring when the total trapping number exceeded 2 x 10(-5). These findings demonstrate the ability of Tween 80 and Aerosol MA solutions to efficiently recover TCE from a heterogeneous DNAPL source zone, and the utility of the total trapping number as a design parameter for a priori prediction of DNAPL mobilization and bank angle formation when flushing with low-IFT solutions. Given their potential to stimulate microbial reductive dechlorination at low concentrations, these surfactants are well-suited for remedial action plans that couple aggressive mass removal followed by enhanced bioremediation to treat chlorinated solvent source zones.     

Biochemical interaction of six op delayed neurotoxicants with several neurotargets

Abstract

Five organophosphorous insecticides: Leptophos, EPN, Cyano‐fenphos, trichloronate and salithion proved to cause irreversible ataxia not only to chicken but also to mice and sheep. TOCP was included as a reference. Cyanofenphos blocked the catecholamine B‐receptor binding activity with ³H‐norepinephrine at a level similar to that of the specific inhibitor propranolol in the mouse heart preparation. In the lamb heart preparation, the B‐receptor was more sensitive to Leptophos, salithion and TOCP than to propranolol. The six compounds and their oxons were screened for their in‐vitro inhibition to monamine oxidase (MAO), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and neurotoxic esterase (NTE) in the brain of either mouse, lamb or chicken. It is believed that their AChE inhibition stands for their acute toxicity, while NTE inhibition is responsible for their paralytic ataxia.     

Phytoextraction of lead-contaminated soil using vetivergrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vetiveria zizanioides</Emphasis> L.), cogongrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Imperata cylindrica</Emphasis> L.) and carabaograss (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paspalum conjugatum</Emphasis> L.)

Background, Aims and Scope The global problem concerning contamination of the environment as a consequence of human activities is increasing. Most of the environmental contaminants are chemical by-products and heavy metals such as lead (Pb). Lead released into the environment makes its way into the air, soil and water. Lead contributes to a variety of health effects such as decline in mental, cognitive and physical health of the individual. An alternative way of reducing Pb concentration from the soil is through phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is an alternative method that uses plants to clean up a contaminated area. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the survival rate and vegetative characteristics of three grass species such as vetivergrass, cogongrass and carabaograss grown in soils with different Pb levels; and (2) to determine and compare the ability of the three grass species as potential phytoremediators in terms of Pb accumulation by plants. Methods The three test plants: vetivergrass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.); cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica L.); and carabaograss (Paspalum conjugatum L.) were grown in individual plastic bags containing soils with 75 mg kg⁻¹ (37.5 kg ha⁻¹) and 150 mg kg⁻¹ (75 kg ha⁻¹) of Pb, respectively. The Pb contents of the test plants and the soil were analyzed before and after experimental treatments using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This study was laid out following a 3 × 2 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. Results On the vegetative characteristics of the test plants, vetivergrass registered the highest whole plant dry matter weight (33.85–39.39 Mg ha⁻¹). Carabaograss had the lowest herbage mass production of 4.12 Mg ha⁻¹ and 5.72 Mg ha⁻¹ from soils added with 75 and 150 mg Pb kg⁻¹, respectively. Vetivergrass also had the highest percent plant survival which meant it best tolerated the Pb contamination in soils. Vetivergrass registered the highest rate of Pb absorption (10.16 ± 2.81 mg kg⁻¹). This was followed by cogongrass (2.34 ± 0.52 mg kg⁻¹) and carabaograss with a mean Pb level of 0.49 ± 0.56 mg kg⁻¹. Levels of Pb among the three grasses (shoots + roots) did not vary significantly with the amount of Pb added (75 and 150 mg kg⁻¹) to the soil. Discussion Vetivergrass yielded the highest biomass; it also has the greatest amount of Pb absorbed (roots + shoots). This can be attributed to the highly extensive root system of vetivergrass with the presence of an enormous amount of root hairs. Extensive root system denotes more contact to nutrients in soils, therefore more likelihood of nutrient absorption and Pb uptake. The efficiency of plants as phytoremediators could be correlated with the plants’ total biomass. This implies that the higher the biomass, the greater the Pb uptake. Plants characteristically exhibit remarkable capacity to absorb what they need and exclude what they do not need. Some plants utilize exclusion mechanisms, where there is a reduced uptake by the roots or a restricted transport of the metals from root to shoots. Combination of high metal accumulation and high biomass production results in the most metal removal from the soil. Conclusions The present study indicated that vetivergrass possessed many beneficial characteristics to uptake Pb from contaminated soil. It was the most tolerant and could grow in soil contaminated with high Pb concentration. Cogongrass and carabaograss are also potential phytoremediators since they can absorb small amount of Pb in soils, although cogongrass is more tolerant to Pb-contaminated soil compared with carabaograss. The important implication of our findings is that vetivergrass can be used for phytoextraction on sites contaminated with high levels of heavy metals; particularly Pb. Recommendations and Perspectives High levels of Pb in localized areas are still a concern especially in urban areas with high levels of traffic, near Pb smelters, battery plants, or industrial facilities that burn fuel ending up in water and soils. The grasses used in the study, and particularly vetivergrass, can be used to phytoremediate urban soil with various contaminations by planting these grasses in lawns and public parks. ESS-Submission Editor: Dr. Willie Peijnenburg (wjgm.peijnenburg@rivm.nl)