Phytoremediation—An Overview

TLDR

Phytoremediation uses plants to clean contaminated soil or water, offering a cost‑effective, noninvasive, and publicly acceptable solution, though its widespread use is limited by plant size and tolerance constraints. The study aims to deepen knowledge of root‑zone contaminant removal mechanisms and plant–microbe interactions to broaden phytoremediation applications. Phytoremediation works by plant uptake of inorganic and organic pollutants, metabolic degradation of organics, and stimulation of root‑zone microbial breakdown.

Abstract

The use of plants (directly or indirectly) to remediate contaminated soil or water is known as phytoremediation. This technology has emerged as a more cost effective, noninvasive, and publicly acceptable way to address the removal of environmental contaminants. Plants can be used to accumulate inorganic and organic contaminants, metabolize organic contaminants, and encourage microbial degradation of organic contaminants in the root zone. Widespread utilization of phytoremediation can be limited by the small habitat range or size of plants expressing remediation potential, and insufficient abilities of native plants to tolerate, detoxify, and accumulate contaminants. A better understanding and appreciation of the potential mechanisms for removing contaminants from the root zone and the interaction between plants, microorganisms, and contaminants will be useful in extending the application of phytoremediation to additional contaminated sites.