co-pollutants from the environment. The effects of pH and exchange capacity
(EC) in contaminated systems that govern transformations of HMs in both lowland
and upland rice paddy fields need analysis.
Solution-phase and solid-phase speciation of HMs in water and soil using
advanced techniques must be further studied. Further research is required to identify
biochemical mechanisms involved in the different HM uptake in plants, because
little research has been conducted on the rhizosphere processes underpinning effective phytoextraction technology for HM cleanup from contaminated soils.
Employing different beneficial microbial communities such as PGPR and mycorrhizal organisms enhances the remediation process effectively. Thus, selection and
identification of new microbial strains with these qualities are required to better
understand their functions and interactions in the rhizosphere, that is, the plant roots,
among metals, microbes, and soil systems. Further analysis of the HM-enriched
plant biomass is needed for reclamation or safe decontamination. Practical
approaches are needed for successful application of the various remediation technologies, such as hyper-accumulators, chelators, microbes, and soil amendments
suitable for effective remediation of different HM-polluted environmental sites.
Acknowledgments The authors are grateful for financial support from a Research Fund for
International Young Scientists from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant
No. 31750110469), and The Introduction of talent research start-up found (No. Z101021803).
We also thank our laboratory colleagues and research staff members for their constructive advice
and help.
References
Abhilash PC, Powell JR, Singh HB, Singh BK (2012) Plant-microbe interactions: novel applications for exploitation in multipurpose remediation technologies. Trends Biotechnol 30:416–420
Abou-Shanab RAI, Angle JS, Chaney RL (2006) Bacterial inoculants affecting nickel uptake by
Alyssum murale from low, moderate and high Ni soils. Soil Biol Biochem 38:2882–2889
Ali H, Khan E, Sajad MA (2013) Phytoremediation of heavy metals: concepts and applications.
Chemosphere 91:869–881
Anderson T (1997) Development of a phytoremediation handbook: consideration for enhancing
microbial degradation in the rhizosphere. http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/ru/index.html
Anderson B, de Peyster A, Gad SC, Hakkinen PJ, Kamrin M, Locey B, Mehendale H, Pope C,
Shugart L (2005) Encyclopedia of toxicology, 2nd edn. Elsevier (Academic), Amsterdam
Arshad M, Saleem M, Hussain S (2007) Perspectives of bacterial ACC deaminase in
phytoremediation. Trends Biotechnol 25:356–362
Awasthi MK, Wang Q, Huang H, Rena X, Lahori AH, Mahar A, Ali A, Feng S, Li R, Zhang Z
(2016) Influence of zeolite and lime as additives on greenhouse gas emissions and maturity
evolution during sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 216:172–181
Awofolu OR (2005) A survey of trace metals in vegetation, soil and lower animals along some
selected major and roads in metropolitan city of Lagos. Environ Monit Assess 105:431–447
Azevedo JL, Maccheroni JW, Pereira JO, de Araújo WL (2000) Endophytic microorganisms: a
review on insect control and recent advances on tropical plants. Electron J Biotechnol 3:40–65
Babalola OO (2010) Beneficial bacteria of agricultural importance. Biotechnol Lett 32
(11):1559–1570
4 Recent Advances in Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals from Contaminated. . .
107
(EC) in contaminated systems that govern transformations of HMs in both lowland
and upland rice paddy fields need analysis.
Solution-phase and solid-phase speciation of HMs in water and soil using
advanced techniques must be further studied. Further research is required to identify
biochemical mechanisms involved in the different HM uptake in plants, because
little research has been conducted on the rhizosphere processes underpinning effective phytoextraction technology for HM cleanup from contaminated soils.
Employing different beneficial microbial communities such as PGPR and mycorrhizal organisms enhances the remediation process effectively. Thus, selection and
identification of new microbial strains with these qualities are required to better
understand their functions and interactions in the rhizosphere, that is, the plant roots,
among metals, microbes, and soil systems. Further analysis of the HM-enriched
plant biomass is needed for reclamation or safe decontamination. Practical
approaches are needed for successful application of the various remediation technologies, such as hyper-accumulators, chelators, microbes, and soil amendments
suitable for effective remediation of different HM-polluted environmental sites.
Acknowledgments The authors are grateful for financial support from a Research Fund for
International Young Scientists from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant
No. 31750110469), and The Introduction of talent research start-up found (No. Z101021803).
We also thank our laboratory colleagues and research staff members for their constructive advice
and help.
References
Abhilash PC, Powell JR, Singh HB, Singh BK (2012) Plant-microbe interactions: novel applications for exploitation in multipurpose remediation technologies. Trends Biotechnol 30:416–420
Abou-Shanab RAI, Angle JS, Chaney RL (2006) Bacterial inoculants affecting nickel uptake by
Alyssum murale from low, moderate and high Ni soils. Soil Biol Biochem 38:2882–2889
Ali H, Khan E, Sajad MA (2013) Phytoremediation of heavy metals: concepts and applications.
Chemosphere 91:869–881
Anderson T (1997) Development of a phytoremediation handbook: consideration for enhancing
microbial degradation in the rhizosphere. http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/ru/index.html
Anderson B, de Peyster A, Gad SC, Hakkinen PJ, Kamrin M, Locey B, Mehendale H, Pope C,
Shugart L (2005) Encyclopedia of toxicology, 2nd edn. Elsevier (Academic), Amsterdam
Arshad M, Saleem M, Hussain S (2007) Perspectives of bacterial ACC deaminase in
phytoremediation. Trends Biotechnol 25:356–362
Awasthi MK, Wang Q, Huang H, Rena X, Lahori AH, Mahar A, Ali A, Feng S, Li R, Zhang Z
(2016) Influence of zeolite and lime as additives on greenhouse gas emissions and maturity
evolution during sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 216:172–181
Awofolu OR (2005) A survey of trace metals in vegetation, soil and lower animals along some
selected major and roads in metropolitan city of Lagos. Environ Monit Assess 105:431–447
Azevedo JL, Maccheroni JW, Pereira JO, de Araújo WL (2000) Endophytic microorganisms: a
review on insect control and recent advances on tropical plants. Electron J Biotechnol 3:40–65
Babalola OO (2010) Beneficial bacteria of agricultural importance. Biotechnol Lett 32
(11):1559–1570
4 Recent Advances in Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals from Contaminated. . .
107