Phytoremediation of TNT in Soil at Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India

Phytoremediation, a relatively new technology of remediating the contaminated environment using plants and serves as a green technology with environmental friendly approach. The main aim of the current study is to carryout phytoremediation of organic compounds and toxic chemicals such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The removal of TNT in soil was carried out using the plant Hibiscus arnottianus. The percentage of TNT removal efficeiency was found higher after 3 month of period at 25mg/kg concentration. The hydrolysed product of TNT degraded by phytoremediation process was on 80th day at the concentration of 25mg/kg concentration which was recorded by the degradative products in the soil using GC-MS chromatography. Hence the use of plants to revitalize contaminated sites is gaining more and more attention and preferred more since it is cost effective when compared to other chemical methods.