Phytoremediation and

Natural Attenuation
 What is
Phytoremediation?
It is the process of removing
contamination from soil or water using
plants.

Phyto = plant
Remedium = restoring balance
 Advantages of Plants

It is cost effective and suitable for large

areas of soil.
It is environmentally friendly
Phytoremediation sites are more
aesthetically pleasing
It is low maintenance
It involves NO noisy and expensive
equipment
 Disadvantages
It is limited to sites with lower contaminant
concentrations
It is restricted to sites with contamination as deep as the
roots of the plants being used.
Not as effective for sites with high contaminant
concentrations
Phytoremediation is slower than conventional methods.
The food chain could be adversely affected by the
degradation of chemicals.
 Phytoremediation
The most important single act of
phytoremediation?

6CO2 + 6H2O ------------- C6H12O6 + 6O2

 How does Phytoremediation
Works?
Plant roots take contaminants from the ground into the
body of the plant. The plant root zone is referred to
as the rhizosphere, this is where the action occurs

The soil supports large populations of diverse

microorganisms. This is due to chemicals exuded by
plant roots which provide carbon and energy for
microbial growth. This combination of plants and
microorganisms appears to increase the
biodegradation of compounds.
 Heavy Metals
Arsenic
Cadmium
Lead
Aluminum
Beryllium
Copper
Iron
Mercury
Nickel
 Various Phytoremediation
Processes
1. Phytoextraction(phytoconcentration) the
contaminant is concentrated in the roots,
stem, and foliage of the plant.
2. Phytodegradation plant enzymes help
catalyse breakdown of the contaminant
molecule.
3. Rhizosphere biodegradation plant roots
release nutrients to microorganisms
which are active in biodegradation of the
contaminant molecule
4. Volatilization where transpiration of
organics, selenium and mercury run through
leaves of the plant.

5. Stabilization where the plant converts

the contaminant into a form which is not
bioavailable, or the plant prevents the
spreading of a contaminant plume.
 Plants Role
Take up contaminants from soil particles
and/or soil liquid into their roots
Bind the contaminant into their root tissue,
physically and/or chemically
Transport the contaminant from their roots
into growing shoots
Prevent or inhibit the contaminant from
leaching out of the soil
 Types of Vegetation Used
Some plants used in phytoremediation are:
Alfalfa
Hybrid Poplar Tress
Blue-green Algae
Arrowroot
Sudan grass
Duck Weed
Bermuda Grass
Alpine Bluegrass
Yellow or White Water Lillies