Phytoremediation

Definition

Phytoremediation is a process that uses vascular plants as a means of extracting inorganic and organic contaminants from soils (1). The strategies used in phytoremediation can be grouped into physical, chemical and biological methods for mitigating the effect subsurface pollutants have on the soil and groundwater.

Strategies

Phytodegradation

Phytodegradation utilizes the metabolic capability of plants in breaking down soil contaminants. The term “green liver” has been used to describe this process as the plant metabolizes xenobiotic compounds in an analogous way to that of the mammalian liver (2). In plants, the xenobiotic metabolism occurs over three phases; transformation, conjugation, and excretion.

References

1. Reichenauer, Thomas G., and James J. Germida. “Phytoremediation of Organic Contaminants in Soil and Groundwater.” ChemSusChem, vol. 1, no. 8‐9, WILEY‐VCH Verlag, 2008, pp. 708–17, doi:10.1002/cssc.200800125. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/doi/full/10.1002/cssc.200800125#bib23.