PHytoextraction

__** Phytoextraction **__ Phytoextraction involves the uptake and concentration of substances from the environment into the plant biomass. It may use plants that naturally take up and accumulate extremely elevated levels of contaminants in their stems and leaves ( Kumar et al., 1995). It can also entail the use of plants that take up and accumulate above ground significant amounts of contaminants only when special soil amendments are used.It uses plants or algae to remove contaminants in soils, sediments or water. Phytoremediation accumulates the contaminants in a much smaller amount of material to be disposed of (the contaminated plants) than does excavation of soil and sediment. The technique is mostly applied to heavy metals and radionuclide in soil, sediment and water. (Kumar et al., 1995).

This image shows how the roots uptake and concentrate substances form the environment up into the plants roots and leaves. []

__Advantages__ - This remedial practice is able to trap metal and radionuclide contaminates that are in mobile chemical forms. These forms are very dangerous and can be the most threatening to human and environmental health. - Material handling is limited compared to other remedial strategies, such as excavation. Therefore costs are lower.

__Disadvantages__ - Phytoextraction takes longer than other technologies. Several to many crops are usually required to remove all the contaminants to the desired levels. - This technology has little research and testing done for contaminates found in the Peconic River sediments. - Plants that have been considered good canidates for use of phytoextraction do not grow well under submerged conditions. - Phytoremediation has not been applied to wetlands. Extensive treatability studies are needed before this technology can be considered for implementation in wetlands. - Plants will have to be harvested over multiple growing seasons in order to be used for Phytoextraction. -Plants that are good canidates for Phytoremediation are not native to the area. - leaching of the mobilized contaminants must be taken in consideration when using soil aditives.

Rebecca D'Arcy