Phytoremediation- Solution to Contaminated Environment

Agricultural, military and industrial activities since long have contaminated the soil, surface and ground water around the world causing great stress to the ecosystem and the natural resources. It is important to get rid of these toxic chemicals for which different remediation methods are used.

Remediation using the conventional techniques, are expensive and also disturb the natural fragile ecosystem, it is hence important to resort to environmentally sustainable technologies. One such efficient new age technology is phytoremediation.

It is the use of living plants to remove and break down contaminants in soil, ground water, surface water and sludge. Plants accomplish the remediation process by converting the contaminants into being less harmful and storing it near the root zone or in the stems, leaves, etc. these contaminants are often broken down by the microbes in the soil and are also released into the air by conversion into vapours rendering the soil free of toxins.

Plants also effectively slow down the movement of contaminated groundwater to the clean site by means of hydraulic control, riparian corridors and buffer strips. Tetrachloroethylene used as solvents in dry cleaning and as an ingredient in inks, paints and disinfectants exist at the bottom of the aquifer and are known to cause neural, kidney and dermatological problems in animals and increase the risk of cancer too.

In a case study that dealt with remediating tetrachloroethylene from groundwater using Populus tree, it was found as a viable option for cleansing the groundwater off the tetrachloroethylene contamination. Populus tree was selected for the purpose due to its high pumping capacity, high rates of transpiration and ability to cross breed causing hybridization. Lead and chromium in 6+ contamination of the soil may also be effectively dealt with by means of phytoremediation and phytostabilization thus inactivating the metals in the soil.

Water hyacinths were used as effective means to remove arsenic from water supplies in Bangladesh and radioactive strontium and cesium were removed from Chernobyl site using sunflower as success stories of phytoremediation.

Phytoremediation can clean up the contaminants from the environment by the following methods-

• Phytovolatilization- It is the uptake of the contaminants like volatile organic compounds by the roots of the plants and release into the atmosphere is detoxified form. For example, trichloroethylene can be volatilized as carbon dioxide and chlorinated acetates by hybrid poplar trees, metals too can be remediated by this method like selenium in the form of dimethylselenide. Genetically modified plants like tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) with genes from modified form of coli can be used to volatilize methyl-mercury into the atmosphere. Typical plant examples are phreatophyte trees (poplar, cottonwood, willow), grasses (sorghum, Bermuda, rye), legumes (alfalfa, clover, cowpeas)
• Microorganism stimulation or Phytostimulation- It is the enhanced biodegradation of the organic toxics with the help of the microbes in the rhizosphere i.e. the root zone. Plants provide enzymes, oxygen and organic substances that promote the growth of microorganisms. Five enzyme systems present in soil investigated by U.S. EPA are- 1) Nitrilase (oxidation reactions), 2) Laccase (breakdown of aromatic ring structure in organic compounds), 3) Peroxidase (oxidation reactions), 4) Nitroreductose (nitroaromatic degradation), 5) Dehalogenase ( dechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbons). Typical plant examples are phenolic releasers (apple, mulberry, osage orange), fibrous roots (fescue, bermuda), aquatic plants.
• Phytostabilization- It is the immobilization of contaminants like heavy metals in the soil. It involves the reduction in the contaminant solubility hence decreasing its bio-availability, reduction in soil erosion and minimizing the wind-blown dust. Phytostabilization may also be accomplished by decreasing the solubility of the metals and hence reducing their leaching into the ground water by increasing the amount of organic matter, bio-solids, alkalizing agents and phosphates in the soil. Typical plant examples are phreatophyte trees for hydraulic control, grasses for stabilization of the soil, plants with dense root systems for reduced mobility of the contaminants.
• Phytoaccumulation/extraction- The process involves the removal of heavy metals from the soil into the leaves and stems. It can be an induced process by the use of chemicals which increase the bioavailability of the contaminant or a continuous process by the use of fast growing hyper accumulating plants. Berkheya coddii having the potential to store as much as 3.8% of nickel in it was grown on the contaminated soils. Typical plant examples are Indian mustard, sunflower, rape seed, crucifers, etc.
• Phytodegradation– It is the direct degradation of the contaminants in the plant tissues or by the release of enzymes. Poplar trees (Populus) have been successfully used in metabolization or degradation of toxins and recalcitrant organic compounds. Typical plant examples are Phreatophyte trees like poplar, cottonwood, willow, grasses like fescue, sorghum and legumes like clover, cowpeas, alfalfa.

Phytoremediation is being increasingly used, for example it has been employed in cleaning up of the contaminated groundwater site at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland near a disposal site. This site was heavily contaminated due to the burning and disposal of warfare and industrial chemicals since 1940 through the 1970s. It was in 1996 that 183 poplar trees were planted to cater to the hovering problem of groundwater contamination. The trees were not only found to degrade the chemicals but also kept the plumes from moving to the clean areas. It was estimated by EPA that the contaminant concentration in the ground water would decrease by up to 85% within 30 years of the start of the project and hence would be fit for use in the near future.

Phytoremediation is a long and time consuming process, depends on climatic condition and may also affect the food chain on consumption of contaminant plant tissues yet seems to be a viable option in today’s world for various reasons. Phytoremediation is a method that improves the aesthetic value of the contaminated site and at the same time offers its services of cleansing the site. It also increases the soil stability and improves the ambient air quality, moreover the cost incurred for phytoremediation treatment is considerably low and doesn’t require huge and heavy equipments and can be carried out either at the site of contamination or at some other place under regulated conditions. Plants have always helped in providing solutions to the problems devised by humans and this new era technique seems like a knight in the shining armor which might save the earth by cleansing it off the dangerous contaminants.

References:

http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/Freshwater/FMS2/1.asp

https://clu-in.org/download/Citizens/a_citizens_guide_to_phytoremediation.pdf

http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/phytoremediation-17359669

http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/Role-inorganic-organic-soil-amendments/104836189.html

http://www.ufv.br/dbv/pgfvg/BVE684/htms/pdfs_revisao/estresse/phytoremsoilmet.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2265025/

http://rydberg.biology.colostate.edu/phytoremediation/2012/Remediation%20of%20groundwater%20with%20poplar%20by%20Erica%20Szonntag.pdf

http://www.hawaii.edu/abrp/Technologies/phystim.html

http://www.hawaii.edu/abrp/Technologies/phystab.html

Image Credit:

Water hyacinth, Aberdeen Proving Ground