Phytoremediation - I
Introduction
Phytoremediation is a process that uses plants to remove, transfer, stabilize, and destroy contaminants in soil and sediment. The mechanisms of phytoremediation include enhanced rhizosphere biodegradation, phyto-extraction (also called phyto-accumulation), phyto-degradation, and phyto-stabilization.
Enhanced Rhizosphere Biodegradation
Enhanced rhizosphere biodegradation takes place in the soil immediately surrounding plant roots. Natural substances released by plant roots supply nutrients to microorganisms, which enhances their biological activities. Plant roots also loosen the soil and then die, leaving paths for transport of water and aeration. This process tends to pull water to the surface zone and dry the lower saturated zones.
Phyto-accumulation
Phyto-accumulation is the uptake of contaminants by plant roots and the translocation/accumulation (phytoextraction) of contaminants into plant shoots and leaves.
Phyto-degradation
Phyto-degradation is the metabolism of contaminants within plant tissues. Plants produce enzymes, such as dehalogenase and oxygenase, that help catalyze degradation. Investigations are proceeding to determine if both aromatic and chlorinated aliphatic compounds are amenable to phyto-degradation.
Phyto-stabilization
Phyto-stabilization is the phenomenon of production of chemical compounds by plant to immobilize contaminants at the interface of roots and soil.
Applicability
Phytoremediation may be applicable for the remediation of metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil, PAHs, and landfill leachates.
Some plant species have the ability to store metals in their roots. They can be transplanted to sites to filter metals from wastewater. As the roots become saturated with metal contaminants, they can be harvested.
Hyper-accumulator plants may be able to remove and store significant amount of metallic contaminants.
Currently, trees are under investigation to determine their ability to remove organic contaminants from ground water, translocate and transpiration, and possibly metabolize them either to CO2 or plant tissue.
Limitations
There are a number of limitations to phytoremediation in soil.
- The depth of the treatment zone is determined by plants used in phytoremediation. In most cases, it is limited to shallow soils.
- High concentrations of hazardous materials can be toxic to plants.
- It involves the same mass transfer limitations as other biotreatments.
- It may be seasonal, depending on location.
- It can transfer contamination across media, e.g., from soil to air.
- It is not effective for strongly sorbed (e.g., PCBs) and weakly sorbed contaminants.
- The toxicity and bioavailability of biodegradation products is not always known.
- Products may be mobilized into ground water or bioaccumulated in animals.
- It is still in the demonstration stage.
- It is unfamiliar to regulators.
- Data Needs
Detailed information is needed to determine the kinds of soil used for phytoremediation projects. Water movement, reductive oxygen concentrations, root growth, and root structure all affect the growth of plants and should be considered when implementing phytoremediation.
Performance Data
Currently, the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program is attempting to demonstrate and evaluate the efficacy and cost of phytoremediation in the field at sites in Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Ohio.
USAEC is also leading the team of experts from EPA, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Waterways Experimental Station (WES) to successfully demonstrate phytoremediation of explosive contaminated sites in Milan Army Ammunition Plant in Milan, TN.
Cost
US AEC estimated that the cost for phytoremediation of one acre of lead-contaminated soil to a depth of 50 cm was $60,000 to $100,000, whereas excavating and landfilling the same soil volume was $400,000 to $1,700,000.
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