Phytoremediation for bioenergy: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Phytoremediation has been increasingly used as a more sustainable approach for the remediation of contaminated sites. The costs associated with this remediation method are usually lower than other well-known remediation technologies and some environmental impacts, like atmospheric emissions and waste generation, are inexistent. The biomass produced in phytoremediation could be economically valorized in the form of bioenergy (biogas, biofuels and combustion for energy production and heating), representing an important environmental co-benefit, added to others such as erosion control, improving soil quality and functionality, and providing wildlife habitat. Several case studies are reviewed and some challenges and opportunities identified.

Selection of metal resistant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for the growth and metal accumulation of energy maize in a mine soil — Effect of the inoculum size

“…In this case, as the TF b 1 and BCF root N BCF shoot this maize cultivar is consider as a root accumulator suitable for metal stabilization although bacterial inoculation had also enhanced the extraction capability of maize plants. The higher metal accumulation in roots tissues presents an advantage when using these plants for bioenergy purposes as the relative low metal concentration in their tissues is recommended (Gomes, 2012). Moreover, in some cases, the plants could be in part used for cattle feeding purposes if the metal legal thresholds are not exceeded (Van Slycken et al, 2013).…”

“…When species of economic interest, such as energy maize, are used in contaminated soils they can be capitalized by e.g. generating biomass-based products (Gomes, 2012;Robinson et al, 2009) while lowering pollutant levels. Maize is one of the underlined plants not only for phytoremediation of fields affected by nitrogen pollution but also for phytoattenuation of HM polluted soils and conversion of metal contaminated areas for biomass production using appropriate cultivars (Gomes, 2012;Meers et al, 2010).…”

Preliminary Results on Growing Second Generation Biofuel Crop Miscanthus X Giganteus at The Polluted Military Site in Ukraine

“…phytoproducts) from those remediation activities (GOMES, 2012;MOSA et al, 2016;TRIPATHI et al, 2016). Plants applicable for bioenergy and phytoremediation of contaminated soils have to be fast growing and showing high biomass, possessing an extensive root system, easy to harvest and tolerate (WENZEL, 2009;GULDANOVA et al, 2010;KULAKOW and PIDLISNYUK, 2010;PRASAD, 2016).…”

PGPR-Assisted Phytoremediation of Cadmium:An Advancement towards Clean Environment

“…The cultivation of ornamental plants, floriculture crops, tree plantations and growing of aromatic grasses was used to remediate soil 38 . However, this method is not widely accepted because of the issue of pollution transfer from soil to plant and heavy metal content in biomass 39 . Hyperaccumulator plants should be used which have high biomass production, and enhanced metal tolerance and metal uptake potential.…”