6
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
2.1 Introduction
Phytoremediation technology was established as an environment-friendly
concept to restore polluted sites before 1990, and a year later the term was
used. Generally, phytoremediation technology can be divided into six
subtypes depending on the contaminant origin and the mechanisms of
restoration (USEPA, 1998). In order to remediate sites polluted by contaminants of inorganic origin (mainly trace elements) the following processes are
proposed (USEPA, 1998):
1. phytoextraction – remediation mechanism is based on the uptake
of contaminant by roots and its transmigration to the aboveground
tissues (leaves, stems, branches);
2. rhizofiltration – remediation mechanism is represented by the
accumulation of contaminants in roots;
3. phytostabilization – remediation mechanism is based on the
contaminant immobilization in soil by plant root exudates.
In case of remediation sites polluted by contaminants of organic origin the
following processes are in the focus (USEPA, 1998):
4. phytodegradation – remediation mechanism is based on absorbing
the contaminants by roots and converting them by plant enzymatic
activity to safe compounds;
5. rhizodegradation – remediation mechanism is based on the provision of favorable environmental conditions for microorganisms to
2.5 M. × giganteus as an Effective Phytoagent ................................................ 19
2.5.1 Miscanthus Tolerance to Metals and Removal Capacity ........... 20
2.5.2 Changes in Soil Parameters Induced by Miscanthus
Phytoremediation ............................................................................ 21
2.6 Miscanthus Phytotechnology in Action ...................................................22
2.6.1 M. × giganteus Application for Phytoremediation of Trace
Elements’ Contaminated Mining Soil, Tekeli, Kazakhstan .......22
2.6.2 M. × giganteus Application for Phytoremediation of
Post-Industrial Soil Contaminated with Trace Elements,
Bakar, Croatia ...................................................................................22
2.6.3 Field Study Results, Fort Riley, Kansas, USA .............................. 23
2.7 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 24
References ...............................................................................................................25
Phytotechnology with Biomass Production
2.1 Introduction
Phytoremediation technology was established as an environment-friendly
concept to restore polluted sites before 1990, and a year later the term was
used. Generally, phytoremediation technology can be divided into six
subtypes depending on the contaminant origin and the mechanisms of
restoration (USEPA, 1998). In order to remediate sites polluted by contaminants of inorganic origin (mainly trace elements) the following processes are
proposed (USEPA, 1998):
1. phytoextraction – remediation mechanism is based on the uptake
of contaminant by roots and its transmigration to the aboveground
tissues (leaves, stems, branches);
2. rhizofiltration – remediation mechanism is represented by the
accumulation of contaminants in roots;
3. phytostabilization – remediation mechanism is based on the
contaminant immobilization in soil by plant root exudates.
In case of remediation sites polluted by contaminants of organic origin the
following processes are in the focus (USEPA, 1998):
4. phytodegradation – remediation mechanism is based on absorbing
the contaminants by roots and converting them by plant enzymatic
activity to safe compounds;
5. rhizodegradation – remediation mechanism is based on the provision of favorable environmental conditions for microorganisms to
2.5 M. × giganteus as an Effective Phytoagent ................................................ 19
2.5.1 Miscanthus Tolerance to Metals and Removal Capacity ........... 20
2.5.2 Changes in Soil Parameters Induced by Miscanthus
Phytoremediation ............................................................................ 21
2.6 Miscanthus Phytotechnology in Action ...................................................22
2.6.1 M. × giganteus Application for Phytoremediation of Trace
Elements’ Contaminated Mining Soil, Tekeli, Kazakhstan .......22
2.6.2 M. × giganteus Application for Phytoremediation of
Post-Industrial Soil Contaminated with Trace Elements,
Bakar, Croatia ...................................................................................22
2.6.3 Field Study Results, Fort Riley, Kansas, USA .............................. 23
2.7 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 24
References ...............................................................................................................25