Phytoremediation

Background
- Infertile soil

- Acidification
Conventional method
What is Phytoremediation?

• phyto = plant, and

• remedium = restoring balance

“the efficient use of plants to remove, detoxify

or immobilize environmental contaminants in a
growth matrix through the natural biological,
chemical or physical activities and processes of
the plants”
Phytoextraction (Phytomining)
- The uptake of contaminants by plant roots and
movement of these contaminants from roots to the
above part of plants then harvesting the crop and
removing the contaminant from the site.

http://www.biology-online.org/js/tiny_mce/plugins/imagemanager/files/boa001/phytoremediationf03.JPG
What to do with plant containing contaminants?
Types of plants used

Ladder brake fern

(Pteris vittata)
- Arsenic

Fool’s Watercress
(Apium nodiflorum)
- Hg, Cr, Pb, Cu and Zn
 Malatungaw, Indian mustard
(Melastoma malabathricum) (Brassica juncea)

Water Hyacinth

Extract Mercury, Cd Bougainvillea sp

and lead (neurotoxic)
 CONCLUSION

•Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that employs the

use of plants for the cleanup of contaminated environments.

•The main advantage of phytoextraction is environmental

friendliness.

•Another benefit is that it is less expensive than any other

clean up process and the possibility of the recovery and re-use
of valuable metals .
References
1. Donn, J. (2001). Fern will detoxify soil - Fern a possible toxic waste cure, pp 8A. In
newspaper: Rome News - Tribute.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=348&dat=20010201&id=XzgxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=szsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6042, 44971
[Date accessed: 12/03/14]

2. Etim, E.E. (2012). Phytoremediation and its mechanisms: A review. International Journal
of Environmental and Bioenergy 2(3), 120 - 136.
http://modernscientificpress.com/Journals/ViewArticle.aspx?
gkN1Z6Pb60HNQPymfPQlZIsaO1oMajYkT5i8/SIthV/i1509l3XqlgX4XSDiXBec [Date
acccessed: 09/03/2014]

3. Flash demo on phytoremediation-https://illumin.usc.

edu/printer/80/phytoremediation/ [Date accessed: 12/03/2014]

4. Mishra, C.S,K. (2007). Rhizoremediation - An Emerging Technology for Management of

Environmental Pollutants. In: Environmental Biotechnology, pp 209-223. Balaji Offset.
http://books.google.mu/books?
id=YN0ZNmraDDMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [Date
accessed: 12/03/14]
How long does phytoremediation takes?

● The time depends on:

- Type and number of plants used
- Type and amount of harmful chemicals present
- Size and depth of polluted area
- Type of soil and conditions present

● Often, it takes many years to clean up a site

with phytoremediation.
 TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS FOR CONTAMINATION

Traditional treatments for metal contamination in soils are expensive and cost prohibitive
when large areas of soil are contaminated. Treatments can be done in situ (on-site), or ex situ
(removed and treated off-site). Both are extremely expensive. Some treatments that are
available include:

Once metals are introduced and contaminate the environment, they will remain. Metals do
not degrade like carbon-based (organic) molecules. The only exceptions are mercury and
selenium, which can be transformed and volatilized by microorganisms. However, in general it
is very difficult to eliminate metals from the environment.
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Phytoremediation
 ADVANTAGES

• “nature” method, more aesthetically pleasing.

• Lower cost
• Easy monitoring
• recovery and re-use of valuable metals
• Minimal land disturbance.
• Reduces potential for transport of contaminants by soil erosion
• Multiple contaminants can be removed with the same plant.
 DISADVANTAGES
• Limited by the length of the roots.
• long-term commitment
• Not possible to completely prevent the leaching of contaminants
into the groundwater
• The survival of the plants is affected by the toxicity of the
contaminated land and the general condition of the soil.
• Bio-accumulation of contaminants into the plants which then
pass into the food chain, from primary level consumers upwards