Additionally, other organic contaminants including petroleum hydrocarbon, phenol, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, atrazine, benzo[a]

pyrene, and trichloroethylene can be biodegraded and/or removed by Vetiver gras

Among phytoremediation, the use of hyperaccumulating plants, which can accumulate >1000 mgkg1 metal for Pb, Cu, Cr
and As, and >100 mgkg1 metal for Cd in the shoots, is common. Such an example is As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata
(Ma et al., 2001).

Based on Cui et al. (2022) and Xia et al. (2019), several plants have been identified, including Nicotiana tabacum and
Sesbania rostrata for U, and Dicoma niccolifera and Sutera fodina for Cr, which can accumulate U and

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Phytoremediation - Environment Notes

Phytoremediation is a plant-based method of extracting and removing elemental pollutants from the environment or lowering their bioavailability
in soil. Plants have the ability to absorb ionic substances from the soil through their root system, even at low concentrations.

Plants extend their root systems into the soil matrix, forming a rhizosphere ecosystem, which collects heavy metals and modulates their
bioavailability, reclaiming damaged soil and regulating soil fertility. This article will explain to you about Phytoremediation which will be helpful
in preparing the Environment syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Phytoremediation- Concept
Living plants are used in phytoremediation technologies to clean up soil, air, and water that have been contaminated with dangerous pollutants.
It's defined as "the employment of green plants and associated microbes, as well as appropriate soil amendments and agronomic techniques, to either contain,
remove, or render harmful environmental toxins harmless."
Many plants, including mustard, alpine pennycress, hemp, and pigweed, have demonstrated their ability to hyperaccumulate toxins at toxic waste sites.
Phytoremediation has been used successfully to recover abandoned metal mine workings, sites where polychlorinated biphenyls were deposited during
manufacturing, and mitigation of continuing coal mine discharges, decreasing pollutants in soils, water, and air.
Metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, and crude oil and its derivatives have all been reduced through phytoremediation operations around the world.

Phytoremediation

Other Relevant Links

Types of Phytoremediation Mycoremediation

Disadvantages of bioremediation Advantages of bioremediation

In situ bioremediation techniques Ex situ bioremediation techniques

Phytoremediation- Types
Phytoextraction / Phytoaccumulation
Phytoextraction / phytoaccumulation is the process by which plants accumulate pollutants in their roots, shoots, or leaves above ground.
The roots absorb elements from the soil or water and concentrate them in the plant biomass above ground.
Hyperaccumulators are organisms that have a high capacity for absorbing pollutants.
For the past twenty years or so, phytoextraction has been rapidly gaining popularity around the world. Heavy metals and other inorganics are commonly
extracted via phytoextraction.
Contaminants are often concentrated in a significantly smaller volume of plant matter at the time of disposal than in the initially contaminated soil or silt.
Because a lesser level of pollutant remains in the soil after harvest, the growth/harvest cycle must normally be repeated over several crops in order to achieve a
meaningful cleanup. The soil is then remediated as a result of the procedure.
 Phytoextraction

Phytotransformation/ Phytodegradation

Phytotransformation, also known as phytodegradation, is the transformation of organic pollutants from soil, sediments, or water into a more stable, less
hazardous, and less mobile form.
The plant roots secrete enzymes that break down the organic chemicals, which are subsequently taken in by the plant and expelled by transpiration.
Herbicides, trichloroethylene, and methyl tert-butyl ether are among the organic pollutants that this method works best with.
The chemical change of environmental compounds as a direct result of plant metabolism is known as phytotransformation, and it frequently results in their
inactivation, degradation (phytodegradation), or immobilization (phytostabilization).
Organic pollutants, such as pesticides, explosives, solvents, industrial chemicals, and other xenobiotic compounds, are rendered non-toxic by the metabolism of
certain plants, such as Cannas.
In other cases, these compounds may be metabolized in soil or water by microbes living in close proximity to plant roots.

Phytodegradation

Phytostabilization
Phytostabilization is a process in which plants limit contaminated soil movement and migration.
Adsorbed and bonded into the plant structure, leachable elements form an unstable mass of plant from which toxins cannot re-enter the environment.
By attaching contaminants to soil particles, the plant immobilizes them, making them less available for plant or human uptake.
Phytostabilization, unlike phytoextraction, concentrates on sequestering contaminants in the soil near the roots rather than in plant tissues.
As pollutant bioavailability decreases, exposure decreases.
Plants can also excrete a material that causes a chemical reaction, resulting in the heavy metal pollution being converted to a less harmful form.
Stabilization reduces erosion, runoff, and leaching while also lowering the contaminant's bioavailability.
The use of a vegetative cap to stabilize and contain mining tailings is an example of phytostabilization in action.
 Phytostabilization

Phytostabilization

Rhizodegradation/ Phytostimulation

Rhizodegradation, also known as phytostimulation, is the breakdown of pollutants through rhizosphere activity.
The presence of proteins and enzymes produced by plants or soil organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi is responsible for this action.
These bacteria may degrade dangerous contaminants like fuels and solvents into benign and harmless products.
Plants release natural carbon-containing compounds such as sugar, alcohols, and acid, which provide additional nutrition to microbes and increase their activity.
Transgenic plants with better plant-microbe interactions have potential to produce.
The plant's ability to release natural chemicals that drive microbial activity would be improved.

Rhizodegradation

Rhizodegradation

Rhizofiltration
Rhizofiltration is a method of removing harmful chemicals and surplus nutrients from water by filtering it through a mass of roots.
Pollutants are absorbed by the roots or transferred on them.
 This method is frequently used to clean up contaminated groundwater by either planting directly in the contaminated area or extracting the contaminated
water and delivering it to these plants off-site.
Plants are normally grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions in either situation.
This technique is used for reducing pollution in wetlands and estuaries.

Rhizofiltration

Rhizofiltration

Mycoremediation
Mycoremediation is a type of bioremediation in which fungi are utilized to clean up a site.
Fungi have been shown to be a cost-effective, ecologically friendly method of eliminating a wide range of toxins from contaminated settings or wastewater.
In land, fresh water, and marine ecosystems, these contaminants include heavy metals, organic pollutants, textile dyes, leather tanning chemicals and
wastewater, petroleum fuels, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, pesticides, and herbicides.
Byproducts of the remediation process, such as enzymes, edible or medicinal mushrooms, can be valuable resources in and of themselves, making the
remediation process even more profitable.
Some fungus can help with the biodegradation of pollutants in extremely cold or radioactive situations, where typical cleanup procedures are either too
expensive or impossible to utilize due to the severe conditions.

Mycoremediation

Mycoremediation

*To know more about the topic, click this link Mycoremediation

Mycofiltration
Mycofiltration is a similar method that filters harmful waste and germs from water in soil using fungus mycelium.
In the remediation of pollutants/xenobiotics, fungal mycelium is reported to use methods such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation.
Several fungus species have been examined and found to have outstanding ability to absorb and remove metals and other contaminants from waste and/or
runoff water.
Fungal species, whether alive or as dried biomass, have a high biosorption capacity for metals like Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn, as well as the ability to change resistant
medicinal compounds and break down insecticides.

Phytoremediation- Advantages
Environmental Friendly Option: It is an environmentally friendly approach as it can limit pollution exposure to the environment and ecosystem.
Applicability And Easy Disposal: This method can be applied over a large-scale field and easily disposed of.
Prevents Erosion And Spreading: It prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilising heavy metals, reducing the risk of contaminants spreading.
Improve Soil Fertility: It can also improve soil fertility by releasing various organic matter to the soil.

Phytoremediation- Disadvantages
Relocation And Not Removal: Phytoremediation relocates hazardous heavy metals rather than removing them from the environment.
Limited Scope: The surface area and depth occupied by the roots are the only areas where phytoremediation can occur.
Slow Growth And Limited Biomass: Because of the slow growth and limited biomass, a long-term commitment is required.
 Cannot Totally Avoid Pollutants: It is impossible to totally avoid pollutant leaching into groundwater using plant-based remediation techniques.
Impact On Plant Survival: The toxicity of contaminated land and the general quality of the soil have an impact on plant survival.
Metal Bonding to Organic Stuff: When taking up heavy metals, the metal might become bonded to the organic stuff in the soil, making it impossible for the
plant to remove.

Phytoremediation- Applications
Soil And Water: Phytoremediation is typically used in stable contaminated soil or aquatic ecosystems.
Abandoned Mine Sites: Restoration of abandoned metal mine workings and sites where polychlorinated biphenyls were deposited during the manufacturing
process, as well as mitigation of active coal mine, discharges decreasing the impact of contaminants in soils, water, or air, are just a few examples.
Pesticides, Crude Oil And Derivatives: Metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, and crude oil and its derivatives have all been reduced through phytoremediation
operations around the world.
Toxic Waste Sites: Many plants, including mustard, alpine pennycress, hemp, and pigweed, have demonstrated their ability to hyperaccumulate toxins at toxic
waste sites.

Conclusion
In phytoremediation, heavy metal detoxification is a necessary step in the phytoremediation process. Plants thus employ one of two defense
methods to deal with heavy metal toxicity: avoidance or tolerance. Plants use these two methods to keep heavy metal concentrations in their cells
below the toxicity threshold levels. Through a variety of mechanisms such as root adsorption, metal ion precipitation, and metal exclusion, it acts
as the first line of defense at the extracellular level.

Other Relevant Links

Environment Notes Bioremediation

Bioremediation Strategies Genetic engineering approaches

Environmental Pollution Causes of pollution

Industrial Wastes Renewable Energy

Environmental Pollution and Health Acid Rain

FAQs
Question: What is the process of phytoremediation? ➕

Question: What are the examples of phytoremediation? ➕

Question: Which grass is used in phytoremediation? ➕

MCQs
Question: Consider the following statements on Phytoextraction:

1. Phytoextraction is the process by which plants accumulate pollutants in their roots, shoots, or leaves above ground.
2. They are referred to as phytoaccumulation.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are not correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Bothe 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : (d) See the Explanation ➕

Question: ______ is a process in which the breakdown of pollutants happens through the rhizosphere activity.

(a) Phytoremediation

(b) Phytoextraction

(c) Phytoaccumulation

(d) Phytostimulation

Answer: (d) See the Explanation ➕

 Other Relevant Links

Indian Polity Notes Indian Economy Notes

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Ancient India History Notes Medieval India History Notes

Modern India History Notes Geography Notes

Science And Technology Notes Environment And Ecology Notes

Post Independence Notes Society Notes

Internal Security Notes Ethics Notes

Disaster Management Notes World History

International Relations Social Justice Notes

CSAT Notes Government Scheme Notes

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.