The Use of Plants for Remediation of Metal-Contaminated Soils

Abstract

The use of green plants to remove, contain, inactivate, or degrade harmful environmental contaminants (generally termed phytoremediation) is an emerging technology. In this paper, an overview is given of existing information concerning the use of plants for the remediation of metal-contaminated soils. Both site decontamination (phytoextraction) and stabilization techniques (phytostabilization) are described. In addition to the plant itself, the use of soil amendments for mobilization (in case of phytoextraction) and immobilization (in case of phytostabilization) is discussed. Also, the economical impacts of changed land-use, eventual valorization of biomass, and cost-benefit aspects of phytoremediation are treated. In spite of the growing public and commercial interest and success, more fundamental research is needed still to better exploit the metabolic diversity of the plants themselves, but also to better understand the complex interactions between metals, soil, plant roots, and micro-organisms (bacteria and mycorrhiza) in the rhizosphere. Further, more demonstration experiments are needed to measure the underlying economics, for publicacceptance and last but not least, to convince policy makers.

Developments in Bioremediation of Soils and Sediments Polluted with Metals and Radionuclides. 3. Influence of Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability on Contaminants Immobilization/Mobilization Bio-processes

“…For this, the readers are referred to the following review papers (Kamnev & van der Lelie 2000;Lasat 2002;Schmidt 2003;Vassilev et al 2004;Alkorta et al 2004a,b;Datta & Sarkar 2004).…”

“…In spite of the growing public and commercial interest and success, more fundamental research is still needed to better exploit the metabolic diversity of the plants themselves, but also to better understand the complex interactions between metals (bioavailability), soil, plant roots and micro-organisms (bacteria and mycorrhiza) in the rhizosphere (Vassilev et al 2004;Alkorta et al 2004b;Kahn 2005).…”

Formation of Metallic Copper Nanoparticles at the Soil−Root Interface

“…Because the human food chain begins with plants, it is critical to understand how plants tolerate heavy metals including copper, which is frequently concentrated in soils as a result of pesticide application, sewage sludge deposition, mining, smeltering, and industrial activities. This issue is also at the crux of applying phytoremediation approaches, which use green plants to decontaminate or contain polluted soils and sediments and to purify wastewaters and landfill leachates (4).…”

Economic Viability of Phytoremediation of a Cadmium Contaminated Agricultural Area Using Energy Maize. Part I: Effect on the Farmer's Income

“…One of the key aspects to the acceptance of phytoextraction in agricultural areas pertains to its effects on the income of the farmers involved and the uncertainty this brings with. In this perspective, the economic viability is greatly supported by the valorisation of the resulting biomass (Vassilev et al, 2004).…”