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Phytotechnologies for Site Remediation
Valentina Pidlisnyuk, Ganga M. Hettiarachchi,
Zeljka Zgorelec, Melissa Prelac, Nikola Bilandžija,
Lawrence C. Davis, and Larry E. Erickson
Abstract
Phytotechnologies for inorganic contaminants include phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytotransformation, and phytohydraulics. Soil
amendments may be added to increase contaminant solubility when
phytoextraction is implemented. For phytostabilization soil amendments
may be added to reduce contaminant availability, such as transformation
to a less soluble compound. Phytotransformation is the process of changing the contaminant to another form to reduce risk of movement or toxicity. Phytohydraulics may be applied with phytostabilization when the
design includes evapotranspiration to reduce transport of the contaminants away from the point of contamination. Plants used for phytostabilization should be able to grow well in the contaminated soil, produce a
product of value and commercial interest, and evapotranspire sufficient
water to achieve containment of the contaminants. The uptake and translocation of the contaminants to aboveground biomass should be small
enough to allow the plant biomass to be used for a commercial purpose.
Miscanthus is among the most promising energy crops for phytoremediation: it grows well in contaminated soil, evaptranspires large quantities of
water, and produces high-quality cellulose. The use of soil amendments
can help to minimize contaminant uptake and improving soil quality is
an important issue. Several other energy crops that have good potential
for phytostabilization application are introduced in this chapter as well.
CONTENTS
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Phytotechnologies .......................................................................................... 9

2.3 Phytostabilization of Arable Land Contaminated with
Trace Elements ...............................................................................................10
2.4 Bioenergy Crops and Phytostabilization Options ...................................11

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