This document discusses the concept of phytoremediation, which uses plants to remove or stabilize contaminants in soil or sediment. It describes different techniques including phytoextraction, where hyperaccumulator plants extract and concentrate contaminants; phytostabilization, where plant roots limit contaminant mobility; rhizofiltration, using plant roots to filter water; and phytovolatilization, where plants release contaminants into the air. Specific plant species are identified that can be used for different contaminants like metals and organic compounds. Advantages of phytoremediation include lower cost compared to other methods and minimal land disturbance, but it also has disadvantages like being dependent on plant tolerance and taking a long time.

1. PHYTOREMEDIATION
CONCEPTS AND
TECHNIQUES
Name: A. Ranga Rani
ID.NO:TAM-13-24

2. Phytoremediation
It is applied at sites with contamination of
 Organic Chemicals –TCE, TNT,, PCBs etc
 Nutrient – Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrate
 Metal pollutants – Lead, Cadmium, Zinc,
Arsenic, Chromium
Phytoremediation is a process that uses plants to
remove, transfer, stabilize, and destroy
contaminants in soil and sediment.

4. Pteris vittata
Brassica juncea
Thlaspi caerulescens
Alyssum serpyllifolium
Hyperaccumulator plants
Poplar sps

6. PHYTOSTIMULATION

7. Phytoextraction
It is the uptake of contaminants,particularly toxic metals and radio
nuclei by plant roots and the translocate to the above ground parts.
Specially selected plants, known as hyperaccumulators, can extract and
accumulate exceptionally high levels of contaminants from soil.
Phytoextraction is achieved by two methods:
1. Continuous phytoextraction
2. Induced phytoextraction

8. 
1. Continuous phytoextraction
It is based on the phytological processes that allow plants
to accumulate metals over the complete growth cycle. It is
based on the genetic and physiological capacity of hyper
accumulators to accumulate,translocate and resist high
amount of metals

9. • The first hyper accumulators characterized were number of
Brasicaceae. Eg: Thallium- Iberis intermedia and
Biscutella laevigata of brassicaceae family,
• Zn in roots and shoots of Thalaspi arvense
• Brassica juncea in Pb, Zn and Cd
Chinese brake fern, P. vittata
to hyperaccumulate arsenic

10. Remediation of saline soils
Salicornia (pickleweed) accumulates salt in vacuole.
A form of table salt can then be extracted from plant.

11. Induced phytoextraction
• It is also known as chelate assisted phytoextraction.
Synthetic metal chelates such as EDTA addition to soil
increase the heavy metal accumulation by plants.
• Metal accumulation efficiency of plants is directly related
to the affinity of chelates for a particular metal.
• Eg. EDTA for Pb,Cd and citrate for U is normally
recommended for induced phytoextraction.
• Chelates applied at 5 and 10 mmol/kg to soil

13. Phytostabilization
Phytostabilization, also referred to as in place inactivation, is
primarily used for the remediation of soil, sediment, and
sludges
It is the use of plant roots to limit contaminant mobility and
bioavailability in the soil.
It is useful for the treatment of Pb as well as As, Cd, Cr, Cu
and Zn.
It is very effective when rapid immobilization is needed to
preserve ground and surface waters

14. Phytostabilization of mercury by willow roots
Yaodong Wang, 2004

15. Rhizofiltration
Rhizofiltration is primarily used to remediate extracted
groundwater, surface water, and wastewater with low contaminant
concentrations (Ensley, 2000).
 It is defined as the filtering of water through a mass of roots to
remove toxic substances or excess nutrients.
Rhizofiltration can be used for Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cr, which
are primarily retained within the roots

17. Indian mustard
water hyacinth
Duckweed (Lemna)
Azolla
Sunflower

18. Removal of substances from the
soil or water with release into the
air, possibly after degradation.
Indian mustard and canola
(Brassicanapus) may be effective
for phytovolatilization of
Selenium.

19. 
 Enhancement of microbial activity for the degradation
of contaminants, typically around plant roots
 PGPR bacteria produce heavy metal chelating agents
such as siderophores which results in sequestration of
metals and thus facilitates better crop growth in
polluted environment
Phytostimulation

21. PHYTOTRANSFORMATION
 Uptake of substances from the environment, and
degradation occurring in the plant
Trichloroethylene (TCE), a prevalent groundwater
contaminant, transformed to less toxic
metabolites by using hybrid poplar tree

23. Phytoremediation of pesticides by a notorious
pest plant
. This plant might be utilized as an efficient, economical and ecological alternative to accelerate the
removal and degradation of agro-industrial wastewater polluted with ethion.

24. 
Cost effective when compared to other more conventional
methods.
 “Nature” method, more aesthetically pleasing.
 Minimal land disturbance.
 Reduces potential for transport of contaminants by wind,
reduces soil erosion
Multiple contaminants can be removed with the same plant.

25. Disadvantages
 Success is dependant on the tolerance of the plant to
the pollutant
 Long length of time is required for remediation
 Possibility of contaminated plants entering the food
chain.
 Depends on the climate.
 Possible spread of contaminant through falling leaves.

26. THANK YOU