The hyperaccumulation of pollutant is helpful in eradicating the pollution?. What happens after the dead and decay of hyperaccumulator plants. How it extract out the pollutants from environmental segment?.
Traditional phytoremediation approaches, to best of my knowledge, are not much effective to remediate polluted soils. The reason is less adaptability of hyperaccumulator plants to a variety of climatic conditions (while pollutants face no such limitations in their occurrence in any climate scenario, pollutants can be anywhere, in any soil, where anthropogenic activities are adding them), less biomass production and longer life cycles (considering "Time" as an important input cost). There is dire need to modify traditional techniques using widely adapted high biomass producing short duration annual plants (even if moderately tolerant and relatively low accumulators). Modifications may include, Chemical, microbial, biochar/ organic matter assisted approaches and most impotant, considering the importance of recent research, Use of Transgenic plants (genetic engineering approaches) to improve the phyto-extraction ability of the plants. The economic valuation of phytoremediation should also be considered.
For further study, please consult our recent review paper (Phytoremediation strategies for soils contaminated with heavy metals: modifications and future perspectives) as attached.
yes phytoremediation really contributes.
In the case of soil pollution, the key is to move the pollutant out of the soil.
Now the fate of the plants after the operation, after drying they can serve as a source of energy and the ash will be stored or landfilled. In waste management the key is reducing the volume
Dear Lounici, Thank you for your answer and what about in case of water pollution phytoremediation. Is the same concept is applied for the wastewater treatment?
obvously nobody calculates the mass balances in a phytoremediation system: you will find out quickly, that it does not help!
Traditional phytoremediation approaches, to best of my knowledge, are not much effective to remediate polluted soils. The reason is less adaptability of hyperaccumulator plants to a variety of climatic conditions (while pollutants face no such limitations in their occurrence in any climate scenario, pollutants can be anywhere, in any soil, where anthropogenic activities are adding them), less biomass production and longer life cycles (considering "Time" as an important input cost). There is dire need to modify traditional techniques using widely adapted high biomass producing short duration annual plants (even if moderately tolerant and relatively low accumulators). Modifications may include, Chemical, microbial, biochar/ organic matter assisted approaches and most impotant, considering the importance of recent research, Use of Transgenic plants (genetic engineering approaches) to improve the phyto-extraction ability of the plants. The economic valuation of phytoremediation should also be considered.
For further study, please consult our recent review paper (Phytoremediation strategies for soils contaminated with heavy metals: modifications and future perspectives) as attached.
Phytoremediation for removing heavy metals in effluent is done by some mining companies. Generally, this is done by constructing artificial marshes that have been isolated from the surrounding environment, usually this is done by digging a basin, lining it with HDPE sheets or other non-permeable material, placing soil or compost to support the plants, and then placing the plants themselves. The heavy metal laden water is passed through the constructed marsh very slowly. Please note that this method does require massive investment both in land area and capital. Additionally, as Mr Sarwar mentioned, the local enviromental condition has to be taken into account as not all plants can be used for all the removal of all contaminants and the different plants have different conditions they can survive.
Dear Anil,
Like all biotechnologies, Phytoremediation can be very effective if correctly applied and maintained. But, it is not a solution for all sites and for all contaminants. It has been quite effective if applied as a pre-treatment and/or a polishing step along with other cleanup technologies. As for mass balances, it is generally as effective as other crude dig and move or pump and filter engineering approaches. With regard to wastewater treatment, many commonly used treatment technologies are basically a form of phytoremediation/bioremediation. Activated sludge is one good example of effective treatment regardless of its mass balance. The site below may help with basic information.
CLU-IN | Training & Events > Phytoremediation and PhytoForensics ...
https://clu-in.org/conf/tio/PhytoForensics_101017/
I hope this is useful.
Guy Lanza
Certainly that phytoremediation can contribute in soil and water phytoremediation. As an environmentally friendly technology, phytoremediation is a promising solution, or at least a strategy able to attenuated the impact of heavy metals contamination. However more fundamental research is needed to better understand and exploited the metabolic diversity of the plants, namely those considered as hyperaccumulators, as well as the complex interactions between plants, sediments, contaminants and microorganisms in the rhizosphere, and therefore improve phytoremediation efficiency.
As previously mentioned by Nyatwere Mganga, althought the ability of hyperaccumulator plants, the natural potential of the endemic plant communities to remediare and stabilize contaminants from the surrounding water and sediments is an added value.
Phytoremediation works in both contaminated soil and water. Typically for water you need to explore means by which you can utilize hydroponic systems. Plants such as Vertiver, ferns (Pteris vittata), Sunflower (Helianthus annus) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) are hyperaccumulators for most toxic metals particularly arsenic. Hope this helps.
It seems that there are many people who make the study of heavy metals contaminated soil remediation. I had done some work on the phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminatedsoil in the last two years. Who discovered good article and recommend come out to be shared? Thank you!
Dear Shuanxi, please find the attached about the Eucalyptus phytoremediation potential aganist wastewater.
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