Trial site, Rønnede, Sjælland, Denmark

Axelved, disused filling station

A former filling station with petrol and diesel spills in a well-defined area near the surface.

Contaminants

Organic compounds

Plants and fungi at this site

PhytoremediationField scale, 1999–2005

Salix spp., Populus spp.

In spring 1999, 2,500 willow and 500 poplar cuttings were planted on 1,400 m² (a Danish EPA demonstration project). Soil and groundwater were checked in 14 rounds between October 1999 and November 2005.

Outcome A mixed outcome. Soil hydrocarbons fell substantially between 2001 and 2005, but some zones stayed heavily contaminated. The trees did not lower the water table significantly, so they brought no extra oxygen into the contaminated soil, and growth was unrelated to contamination level. The report puts the reduction down mainly to microbial activity stimulated by fertiliser, not to the trees.

Petroleum hydrocarbons

Fytoremediering af olie- og benzinforurening på nedlagt benzinstation, Miljøprojekt nr. 1282, Miljøstyrelsen (Danish EPA), www2.mst.dk, 2009

From the literature

Species that acted on one of this site's contaminants in at least one study. The list is automatic and takes no account of this site's soil, concentrations or climate.

Plants

Festuca arundinaceaTall fescuePetroleum hydrocarbonsEvidence: field
Lolium perennePerennial ryegrassPetroleum hydrocarbonsEvidence: field
Medicago sativaAlfalfa, lucernePetroleum hydrocarbonsEvidence: field
Paulownia tomentosaPrincess tree, empress treePetroleum hydrocarbonsEvidence: field

Fungi

Scedosporium apiospermumBTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes)Petroleum hydrocarbonsEvidence: laboratory
Pleurotus pulmonariusPhoenix oyster, Indian oysterPetroleum hydrocarbonsEvidence: laboratory