Phytoremediation and phytoscreening of micropollutants using black poplar: Integration of LC-MS/MS multiscreening and rhizospheric microbiome analysis

Abstract

The increasing occurrence of micropollutants, including pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in groundwater, presents a growing challenge for environmental monitoring and remediation. This study investigates the phytoremediation potential of black poplar (Populus nigra) in hydroponic systems as an alternative and cost-effective tool for groundwater quality monitoring and contaminant attenuation. A multiscreening analytical method based on UHPLC-MS/MS was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 21 micropollutants and their degradation products in plant biomass using a combination of QuEChERS and HLB solid-phase extraction. Hydroponic exposure experiments revealed that black poplar contributed to the removal of 12–87 % of the target compounds, with accumulation primarily in root tissues. Translocation to stems and leaves was compound-specific and related to physicochemical properties such as log K_ow. Root concentration factors (RCF) ranged from 0.01 to 55.53, and translocation factors (TF) from 0.01 to 4.08. In addition, 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon profiling indicated exploratory shifts in rhizospheric bacterial and fungal communities under selected micropollutants, suggesting testable links to plant–microbe interactions and contaminant attenuation. The results confirm that black poplar can be used both for phytoscreening and phytoremediation of diverse classes of micropollutants, supporting its application in integrated strategies for groundwater protection and ecological risk assessment.