218
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
The contents of this book and in the references that have been included
provide very useful information. Phytoremediation with biomass production has value as sustainability of land use is considered at specific sites that
have contamination from past military and mining activities or other uses.
Social value, environmental goals, and economic benefits enter into consideration as plans are developed. There has been very significant scientific progress during the last 30 years and many successful field applications have been
carried out as reported in this book.
Chapters 2 and 3 review progress in developing phytotechnologies for
addressing inorganic and organic soil contaminants, respectively. Miscanthus
has been grown in many different environments with good results. Energy
crops have been used in soils with trace elements contamination as well as
at sites with organic contaminants. Phytostabilization with biomass production has been developed and applied at sites with inorganic contaminants
such as lead and other trace elements. Methods to reduce the bioavailability
of the trace elements are beneficial where biomass production is the primary
objective and the uptake of trace elements into the biomass is intended to
be small. There are many biomass products such as wood and paper where
small quantities of trace elements in the finished product are acceptable with
respect to health and safety. National and international regulations of course
must be observed in this regard.
For soils with organic contaminants, the better options use strategies in
which the contaminants are biodegraded or transformed by chemical processes. The goal is often to improve soil health such that the concentrations of any contaminants are reduced to levels so that they are no longer
a concern, or are converted into less harmful products. Phytoremediation
with biomass production can be implemented at many sites with organic
contaminants where the biomass products are cellulosic fiber rather than
food or feed products.
The economics associated with establishing and growing vegetation at
contaminated sites can be improved if a trace element that has commercial
value can be extracted from the soil by plants. Chapter 4 addresses to phytomining – the process of extracting a product such as nickel from soil using
hyperaccumulator plants that are able to grow in the contaminated soil and
accumulate a element product of value. Typically, after harvesting the plant
biomass, drying it, and burning it for energy recovery, the ash can be processed to extract the element of interest.
The establishment of vegetation at some field sites requires a significant
effort because of the physical state of the site, soil quality, and toxicity of the
contaminants. Chapter 5 provides information on the science and technology for best practices when establishing vegetation at a contaminated site.
Soil amendments, tilling, plant selection and production, water and weed
management, harvest timing and nutrient optimization considerations are
reviewed. Microbial ecology is altered by soil amendments and tilling, often
in a positive way. Chapter 7 reviews biological options at contaminated sites
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
The contents of this book and in the references that have been included
provide very useful information. Phytoremediation with biomass production has value as sustainability of land use is considered at specific sites that
have contamination from past military and mining activities or other uses.
Social value, environmental goals, and economic benefits enter into consideration as plans are developed. There has been very significant scientific progress during the last 30 years and many successful field applications have been
carried out as reported in this book.
Chapters 2 and 3 review progress in developing phytotechnologies for
addressing inorganic and organic soil contaminants, respectively. Miscanthus
has been grown in many different environments with good results. Energy
crops have been used in soils with trace elements contamination as well as
at sites with organic contaminants. Phytostabilization with biomass production has been developed and applied at sites with inorganic contaminants
such as lead and other trace elements. Methods to reduce the bioavailability
of the trace elements are beneficial where biomass production is the primary
objective and the uptake of trace elements into the biomass is intended to
be small. There are many biomass products such as wood and paper where
small quantities of trace elements in the finished product are acceptable with
respect to health and safety. National and international regulations of course
must be observed in this regard.
For soils with organic contaminants, the better options use strategies in
which the contaminants are biodegraded or transformed by chemical processes. The goal is often to improve soil health such that the concentrations of any contaminants are reduced to levels so that they are no longer
a concern, or are converted into less harmful products. Phytoremediation
with biomass production can be implemented at many sites with organic
contaminants where the biomass products are cellulosic fiber rather than
food or feed products.
The economics associated with establishing and growing vegetation at
contaminated sites can be improved if a trace element that has commercial
value can be extracted from the soil by plants. Chapter 4 addresses to phytomining – the process of extracting a product such as nickel from soil using
hyperaccumulator plants that are able to grow in the contaminated soil and
accumulate a element product of value. Typically, after harvesting the plant
biomass, drying it, and burning it for energy recovery, the ash can be processed to extract the element of interest.
The establishment of vegetation at some field sites requires a significant
effort because of the physical state of the site, soil quality, and toxicity of the
contaminants. Chapter 5 provides information on the science and technology for best practices when establishing vegetation at a contaminated site.
Soil amendments, tilling, plant selection and production, water and weed
management, harvest timing and nutrient optimization considerations are
reviewed. Microbial ecology is altered by soil amendments and tilling, often
in a positive way. Chapter 7 reviews biological options at contaminated sites