Evaluation of electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation efficiency of dibutyl phthalate contaminated soil by maize (Zea mays L.) under different electric field intensities

The excessive accumulation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in soil poses a serious threat to soil ecosystems and crop safety production. Electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation (EKPR) has been considered as a potential technology for remediating organic contaminated soils. In order to investigate the effect of different electric fields on removal efficiency of DBP, three kinds of electric fields were set up in this study (1 V·cm−1, 2 V·cm−1 and 3 V·cm−1). The results showed that 59 % of DBP in soil was removed by maize (Zea mays L.) within 20 d in low-intensity electric field (1 V·cm−1), and the accumulation of DBP in maize tissues decreased significantly compared to the non-electrified treatment group. Interestingly, it could be observed that the low-intensity electric field could maintain ion homeostasis and improve the photosynthetic efficiency of the plant, thereby relieving the inhibition of DBP on plant growth and increasing the chlorophyll content (94.1 %) of maize. However, the removal efficiency of DBP by maize decreased significantly under the medium-intensity (2 V·cm−1) and high-intensity electric field (3 V·cm−1). Moreover, the important roles of soil enzyme and rhizosphere bacterial community in low-electric field were also investigated and discussed. This study provided a new perspective for exploring the mechanism of removing DBP through EKPR. [Display omitted] •Electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation had great remediation potential for soil DBP.•The accumulation of DBP in maize greatly decreased in low-intensity electric fields.•Low electric intensity accelerated soil nutrient cycling to enhance phytoremediation.•Electric fields maintained ion homeostasis of maize cultivated in soil containing DBP.•Microcurrent enriched the abundance of DBP-degrading bacteria in maize rhizosphere.