Removal experiments of phenol, aniline, 2,4-dichlorophenol, nonylphenol and bisphenol A (BPA) using Spirodela polyrrhiza-bacterial associations revealed that all compounds but BPA underwent accelerated removal. The mechanisms differed depending on the substrates. It was found that S. polyrrhiza has a great ability to release phenolic compound-rich root exudates, and the exudates seem to stimulate bacterial degradation of a variety of aromatic compounds.