Bioremediation
The use of organisms such as plants or microorganisms to aid in
removing hazardous substances from an area.
What is Phytoremediation? Discuss its
Applications
[Civil Services General Studies MAINS question
paper-II 2010]
Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants for cleaning up contaminants in
soil, groundwater, surface water and air. It is a cost-effective and
non-polluting way to remove toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water and
also it offers remediation of brownfield sites.
Phytoremediation has several methodologies which
includes
1. Phytoextraction or phytoconcentration : contaminant
concentrated in roots, stem and foliage of plan.
2. Phytodegradation : plant enzymes help catalyze
breakdown of the contaminant molecule.
3. Rhizosphere biodegradation: plant roots release
nutrients to mircro-organisms which are active
in bio-degradation of the contaminant molecule.
4. Volatilization: transpiration of organics, selenium
and mercury run through leaves of the plant
5. Stabilization: ant converts the contaminant
into a form which is not bioavailable, or the plant prevents the spreading of a contaminant plume.
Applications of Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants for cleaning up contaminants in soil, groundwater, surface water and air. It is a cost-effective and non-polluting way to remove toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water and also it offers remediation of brownfield sites.
1. Phytoextraction or phytoconcentration : contaminant concentrated in roots, stem and foliage of plan.
2. Phytodegradation : plant enzymes help catalyze breakdown of the contaminant molecule.
3. Rhizosphere biodegradation: plant roots release nutrients to mircro-organisms which are active in bio-degradation of the contaminant molecule.
4. Volatilization: transpiration of organics, selenium and mercury run through leaves of the plant
5. Stabilization: ant converts the contaminant into a form which is not bioavailable, or the plant prevents the spreading of a contaminant plume.
Applications of Phytoremediation
 |
• The principal application of Phytoremediation is for lightly contaminated soils, sledges and waters where the material to be treated is at a shallow or medium depth and the area to be treated is large, so that agronomic techniques are economical and applicable for both planting and harvesting.
• Phytoremediation can be
applied for producing energy from controlled combustion of harvested biomass
• Applied for harvesting
valuable metals that are dispersed in soil
• Applied for providing quick
remediation of Brownfield sites.
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For Hydrocarbons
