Phytoremediation : Vetiver Grass in Remediation of Soil Contaminated with Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is chlorinated hydrocarbon which used in degreasing oil and grease fromprocess products. It was found that this chemical was contaminated in environmental, soil and wateraround industrial area. Soil was collected from Pratum Thani province which had TCE higher than thestandard set by Ministry of Industry in Thailand. Four ecotypes of vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides)were used for phytoremediation including Songkla3, Sri Lanka, Kamphaeng Phet2 and Surat Thani. Allecotypes grew up and the survival rate was 100% after planting for 1 month. Surat Thani had the mostnumber of leaves (6.67±0.58). Songkhlar3 had the longest shoots followed by Sri Lanka (6.67±0.29,5.33±0.76 cm). Songkla3 and Sri Lanka had the longest leaves (40.57±1.39 and 39.30±5.88 cm).However, there were no statistical differences (p > 0.05) in sprouts quantity and leaves width amongthe four ecotypes. Songkhlar3 and Sri Lanka were selected for further experiment. Vetiver grass wasplanted in contaminated soil mixed with soil conditioners including coconut residue : soil : manure inratio 3 : 2 : 1 by weight. TCE was higher accumulated in leaves than shoots and roots. The removal ofTCE from contaminated soil was about 98% for two ecotypes. However, in the field trial moreparameters would be put to concern than laboratory scale.