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Phytoremediation’s Progress
DANIËL VAN DER LELIE ,
J E A N - PAU L S C H W I T Z G U É B E L ,
D AV I D J . G L A S S ,
JACO VANGRONSVELD,
hytoremediation—using plants and trees to ing track record of commercial success, more demon-
Scope of applications
Potential obstacles to large-scale application of phy-
toremediation technologies include the time required
and Europe (1). for remediation, the pollutant levels tolerated by the
Like any other new approach, phytoremediation plants used, and the fact that only the bioavailable
will only be accepted if its success is demonstrated. fraction of the contaminants will be treated. From eco-
The key factors are low cost (compared to classical re- logical, toxicological, and health points of view, the
mediation techniques) and aesthetic aspects, mak- bioavailable fraction should be the most important
ing it suitable for remediating large contaminated consideration, but present environmental regulations
sites in populated areas. are mainly based on total pollutant concentrations.
U.S. researchers pioneered phytoremediation An example application of a current risk-based
demonstration projects and can be largely credited for phytoremediation concept involves using metal-in-
the positive image that phytoremediation has today. activating soil additives such as coal fly ash or zeo-
As a result of its more conservative attitude toward lites combined with revegetation. Using these soil
demonstration projects, only a few successful, well- amendments strongly reduces the availability of met-
documented demonstration projects have been per- als to plant uptake and limits eventual toxicity to
formed in Europe (Table 1). plants, allowing revegetation of contaminated sites.
Comparison of recent developments in Europe Establishment of the vegetative cover markedly de-
and the United States shows that efforts to market creases metal leaching to groundwater and prevents
LOEL BARR
the technology are somewhat different on the two the dispersal of polluted dusts through wind and rain
sides of the Atlantic. Despite differences and a grow- erosion from formerly bare sites (2, 3).
© 2001 American Chemical Society NOVEMBER 1, 2001 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY I 447 A
TA B L E 1
Former landfill, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute Salix viminalis (willow) Zn, Cd
of Technology
Sewage disposal site,
United Kingdom University of Glasgow Salix species (willow) Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd
Oil well blowout, Trecate, Italy Battelle Europe Alfalfa, clover, corn, rye, Petroleum hydrocarbons
sorghum, and soy
In contrast, phytoextraction requires the avail- modified plants, potential risks of transferring cont-
ability of metals to plants. In fact, amending the soil aminants to the food chain, and environmental im-
with chemical chelators that increase metal bioavail- pacts. An alternative phytoremediation enhancement
ability, uptake, and translocation in plants has been strategy might rely on improved interactions between
proposed as a way to overcome bioavailability limi- plants, rhizospheric bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi,
tations, but this necessitates careful mass balances an approach that often assists plants in overcoming
to confirm that metals mobilized by chelators are not toxicity problems.
leached to groundwater. Using synthetic chelator The economics of phytoremediation is generally
chemicals is a questionable practice from an envi- favorable but can be improved. One option is using
ronmental standpoint. Natural chelators of plant or plants that provide added value by producing bio-
microbial origin seem more promising. Microbial pro- mass. For example, oil- or fragrance-producing plants
tection of plants against phytotoxic concentrations, such as vetiver, lavender, or coriander could be used
however, is often based on exclusion of heavy met- and their valuable oil and fragrance products recov-
als, and therefore, it is uncertain whether an approach ered. Alternatively, combustion can reduce the vol-
based on chemical chelators is practical for improv- ume of contaminated biomass, followed by selective
ing phytoremediation. recovery of heavy metals from residual ash.
Broadening the technology’s applicability will re- Depending on the type and concentration of the
quire using plants that perform better. This is partic- metal, this could provide an economically valuable re-
ularly true for phytoremediating metals, which cycled product.
requires plants with high biomass production and In developing phytoremediation strategies, pre-
heavy metal uptake and translocation capacities. harvest parameters (type and degree of pollution,
Plants phytoremediating organic xenobiotics would plant selection, treatability, agronomic techniques,
also need increased degradation potential. Use of ge- groundwater capture zone, uptake rate, transpiration
netically modified plants and organisms is conceiv- rate, and required cleanup time) and postharvest eval-
able, but this approach must consider the safety of uation parameters (collection, residues, waste dis-