Phytoextraction: a cost-effective plant-based technology for the removal of metals from the environment

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that uses plants to clean up pol lutants (metals and organics) from the environment. Within this field of ph ytoremediation, the utilization of plants to transport and concentrate meta ls from the soil into the harvestable parts of roots and above-ground shoot s is usually called phytoextraction. Most traditional remediation methods d o not provide acceptable solutions for the removal of metals from soils. By contrast, phytoextraction of metals is a cost-effective approach that uses metal-accumulating plants to clean up these soils. Subsequently, the harve stable parts, rich in accumulated metals, can be easily and safely processe d by drying, ashing or composting. Some extracted metals can also be reclai med from the ash, generating recycling revenues. Phytoextraction appears a very promising technology for the removal of metal pollutants from the envi ronment and may be, at present, approaching comercialization. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.