How do the plants used in phytoremediation in constructed wetlands, a sustainable remediation strategy, perform in heavy‐metal‐contaminated mine sites?

Abstract

This review draws on knowledge for the treatment of heavy‐metal leachate in contaminated mine sites. Mine waste rock dumps and tailings generate a continuous stream of metalliferous and saline leachate over the long term. The mining industry has many legacy sites, which have compromised aquatic ecosystems and groundwater because of heavy‐metal contamination. Chemical and engineering methods are available and have been extensively utilised. However, these methods require intensive energy and often produce substantial volumes of secondary waste. We therefore argue in favour of phytoremediation as a sustainable remediation strategy leading towards efficient and sustainable metal removal and immobilisation through constructed wetlands.

Detection of Copper (II) and Cadmium (II) binding to dissolved organic matter from macrophyte decomposition by fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra combined with parallel factor analysis

“…Lake Baiyangdian has played an important role in flood control (through dam building), climate regulation, and environmental improvement. Previous research has shown that macrophyte-dominated water can absorb and purify pollutants (Adams et al, 2012;Dhote and Dixit, 2009;Li et al, 2010). The present study shows, however, that Lake Baiyangdian is still polluted by a variety of heavy metal compounds, especially Cu (II) (Su et al, 2011).…”

Distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in Red Cedar (Cedrela odorata) wood seedling grown in dumpsite soil

“…Heavy metal contamination in soil is one of the major environmental problems throughout the world. Metals with specific density of at least 5 times greater than that of water, 1 g cm-3 are known as heavy metals and thus, have a specific density greater than 5g/cm 3 (Kabata-Pendias, 2001; Adams, 2013) According to Brady (2002), heavy metals can be classified into two; essential and non-essential elements for living of organisms. Essential elements such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co and Mo, as Ni and Cr are beneficial elements that have known biological functions to microorganisms while Cd, Hg, Pb and As and As are considered as non-essential elements because they do not have significant functions.…”

Wetland megabias: ecological and ecophysiological filtering dominates the fossil record of hot spring floras

“…Cyperus , Scirpus , Schoenoplectus , and Fimbristylis ) also include species that occur commonly in metal‐stressed settings and are used in phytoremediation (Rai ; Adams et al . ). Transplanted Apodasmia similis grow successfully on tidal wetland sediments affected by elevated As concentrations (Thomsen et al .…”