A review of phytoremediation

Abstract

The environment consists of both biotic and abiotic components. It creates favorable conditions for existence and development of living organisms nowadays. Soil contamination with toxic metals such as Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni and Cr, as results of worldwide industrialization has increased noticeably within the past few years. Phytoremediation is a viable, relatively low cost approach to removing heavy metals from soil and groundwater. The mechanisms by which plants promote the removal of pollutants are varied, including uptake and concentration, transformation of pollutants, stabilization, and rhizosphere degradation, in which plants promote the growth of bacteria underground in the root zone that in turn break down pollutants. This research investigated the possibility of achieving soil clean-up using native plants that also provided aboveground benefits, including wildlife habitat. Recently, phytoremediation as a cost effective and environmentally friendly technology has been developed by scientists and engineers in which biomass/microorganisms or live plants are used to remediate the polluted areas. Phytoremediation can be classified into different application such as phyextraction, phytodegradation, phytostabilization, phytofiltration or rhizofiltration and phytovolatilization.