Phytoremediation is a process that uses plants to remove contamination from soil, water or sediments. It works by utilizing the natural biological, chemical and physical processes of plants. Plants can absorb, break down, stabilize or prevent the spread of contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides and organic pollutants. Some common plants used for phytoremediation include alfalfa, poplar trees, and bermuda grass. The advantages are that it is a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to treat large areas of land. However, it is a slower process and not effective for high concentrations of contamination.

1. Phytoremediation
University of Baghdad College of
Engineering Civil Engineering Dep.
M.Sc. Soil Mechanics &
Foundation Engineering

2. What is Phytoremediation?
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• Phytoremediation :The process of removing
contamination from (soil, water or sediments)
through the natural biological, chemical or
physical activities and processes of the plants”.
• phyto = plant
• remedium = restoring balance.
What is Phytoremediation?
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3. Soil Pollution : is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic
compounds, chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing
agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health.
It is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or
other alteration in the natural soil environment.
SOIL POLLUTION
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The soil close to Yangzong Lake,
southwest China's Yunnan Province
was seriously
polluted by Arsenic in 2009.

4. HOW DOES PHYTOREMEDIATION WORK ?
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• Phytoremediation is an in situ remediation technology that
utilises the inherent abilities of living plants.
• The mechanisms and efficiency of phytoremediation depend
on the type of contaminant , bioavailability and soil properties.
• The root system provides an enormous surface area that absorbs
and accumulates the water and nutrients essential for growth, as
well as other non-essential contaminants.

6. The most important single act of
phytoremediation?
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6 CO2 + 6 H2O----------- C6H12O6 + 6 O2

7. This graphic shows a typical process diagram of phytoremediation.
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8. Heavy metals?
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- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Lead
- Aluminum
- Beryllium
- Copper
- Iron
- Mercury
- Nickel
*These persist in soils and are toxic to animals even in
small quantities

9. 1. Phytoextraction or phytoconcentration, where the contaminant is
concentrated in the roots , stem and foliage of the plant.
2. Phytodegradation, where plant enzymes help catalyze breakdown
of the contaminantmolecule.
3. Rhizosphere biodegradation, where 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.
Various phytoremediation processes
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11. Phytoremediation
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-Plants used to decontaminate soils must do one
or more of the following:
• 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.

12. Types of Vegetation Used
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Some of the plants used in phytoremediation are:
•Alfalfa
•Hybrid Poplar Trees
•Blue-green Algae
•Arrowroot
•Sudan Grass
•Rye Grass
•Duck Weed
•Bermuda Grass
•Alpine Bluegrass
•Yellow or White Water Lillies

13. Advantages of plants:
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Phytoremediation is cost effectiveIt is suited to
remediation of large areas of soil.
It is environmentally friendly.
Phytoremediation sites are more aesthetically
pleasing
Phytoremediation sites are low maintenance.
It involves no noisy and expensive equipment

14. Disadvantages:
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Phytoremediation is limited to sites with lower contaminant
concentrations.
Toremediation 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.
It does not work through the winter (Seasonally effective).
The food chain could be adversely affected by the degradation of
chemicals.
The air could be contaminated by the burning of leaves or limbs of
plants containing dangerous chemicals.

15. Conclusion
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 The main factor driving the implementation of
phytoremediation projects are low costs with significant
improvements in site aesthetics and the potential for
ecosystem restoration.
 Phytoremediation is one of the method which can be used
to remedy soil problems in order to achieve sustaiable soil.
 Phytoremediation has many different forms which will suit
different kind of soil problems.
 Sustainable soil is very important for the continuum of
living organisms.

16. References
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 MS Liphadzi1* and MB Kirkham2 16 July 2004 Phytoremediation of soil
contaminated .
 Jatropha curcas K. Bauddh et al. (eds.) Nigeria ,2017, Phytoremediation of
Soil Contaminants by the Biodiesel Plant .
 http://modernscientificpress.com/Journals/ViewArticle.aspx?gkN1Z6Pb60HN
QPymfPQlZIsaO1oMajYkT5i8/SIthV/i1509l3XqlgX4XSDiXBec .
 http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/Freshwater/FMS2/2.asp .
 http://clu-in.org/download/remed/introphyto.pdf .
 Halala Rahman Qadir , 2015, Iraq ,Phytoremediation.
 Haseeb Hakkim ,2014, Iraq ,Phytoremediation.
 Bhagea Ritesh Buctowar Rouksaar et al 14th March 2014 Phytoremediation.
 Phytoremediation ppt on slideshare http://www.igece.
org/WRKY/BrachyWRKY/WRKY/IMG/Rhizofiltration.jpg [Date accessed:
12/03/14]