160
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
9.1 Introduction to Phytoremediation
with Biomass Production
In this chapter, the economic aspects of phytoremediation with biomass
production are addressed with full consideration of environmental, social,
ecosystem, and economic benefits associated with the improvement of each
contaminated site using a sustainable remediation approach. The benefits of
soil remediation with biomass production include risk reduction, improvements in soil quality and soil health, biomass products, carbon sequestration, reduced soil erosion, community aesthetic benefits, and better habitat
for birds and wild animals.
9.2 Sustainable Approach
When economic considerations are integrated with environmental impacts
and social values, environmental metrics such as air quality, water quality,
soil health, and ecosystem conditions are introduced. Social metrics of human
health, quality of life, safety, aesthetic value, and impact on quality of employment can be considered. The economic analysis should include both direct
and indirect costs and benefits.
The economics of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on the avoided
social cost of carbon is part of the sustainable approach. Increasing the
amount of soil organic matter and soil organic carbon is beneficial in establishing vegetation, and this can be considered in the global carbon balance.
In the majority of phytoremediation with biomass production projects, soil
organic carbon will be increased and biomass will be produced. Policies
that provide incentives to reduce GHG emissions or increase soil organic
carbon may be included in the analysis (Mikhailova et al., 2019). The Paris
agreement on climate change and those working to reduce GHG emissions
have included initiatives to increase soil carbon as part of the Paris climate
pledges (Paustian et al., 2019; Rumpel et al., 2018). The National Academies
have described a new research agenda on carbon sequestration in soils to
help achieve the goals of the Paris agreement (NASEM, 2019).
There are many sustainability indicators that have been proposed for use in
a sustainable remediation framework (Bardos et al., 2018). The International
Sustainable Remediation Alliance has been established to encourage networking among organizations and countries that are making use of sustainable approaches to remediation of contaminated sites (Bardos et al., 2018). One
of the results of using sustainability indicators has been to find that qualitative methods often lead to simple sustainability assessments that produce
good decisions that are supported by the participants. When working with
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
9.1 Introduction to Phytoremediation
with Biomass Production
In this chapter, the economic aspects of phytoremediation with biomass
production are addressed with full consideration of environmental, social,
ecosystem, and economic benefits associated with the improvement of each
contaminated site using a sustainable remediation approach. The benefits of
soil remediation with biomass production include risk reduction, improvements in soil quality and soil health, biomass products, carbon sequestration, reduced soil erosion, community aesthetic benefits, and better habitat
for birds and wild animals.
9.2 Sustainable Approach
When economic considerations are integrated with environmental impacts
and social values, environmental metrics such as air quality, water quality,
soil health, and ecosystem conditions are introduced. Social metrics of human
health, quality of life, safety, aesthetic value, and impact on quality of employment can be considered. The economic analysis should include both direct
and indirect costs and benefits.
The economics of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on the avoided
social cost of carbon is part of the sustainable approach. Increasing the
amount of soil organic matter and soil organic carbon is beneficial in establishing vegetation, and this can be considered in the global carbon balance.
In the majority of phytoremediation with biomass production projects, soil
organic carbon will be increased and biomass will be produced. Policies
that provide incentives to reduce GHG emissions or increase soil organic
carbon may be included in the analysis (Mikhailova et al., 2019). The Paris
agreement on climate change and those working to reduce GHG emissions
have included initiatives to increase soil carbon as part of the Paris climate
pledges (Paustian et al., 2019; Rumpel et al., 2018). The National Academies
have described a new research agenda on carbon sequestration in soils to
help achieve the goals of the Paris agreement (NASEM, 2019).
There are many sustainability indicators that have been proposed for use in
a sustainable remediation framework (Bardos et al., 2018). The International
Sustainable Remediation Alliance has been established to encourage networking among organizations and countries that are making use of sustainable approaches to remediation of contaminated sites (Bardos et al., 2018). One
of the results of using sustainability indicators has been to find that qualitative methods often lead to simple sustainability assessments that produce
good decisions that are supported by the participants. When working with