Phytoextraction: an assessment of biogeochemical and economic viability

Abstract

Phytoextraction describes the use of plants to remove metals and other contaminants from soils. This low-cost technology has potential for the in situ remediation of large areas of contaminated land. Despite more than 10 years of intensive research on the subject, very few commercial phytoextraction operations have been realised. Here, we investigate the viability of phytoextraction as an effective land-treatment technology. A Decision Support System (DSS) was developed to predict the effect of phytoextraction on soil metal concentration and distribution, as well as the economic feasibility of the process in comparison to either inaction or the best alternative technology. Changes in soil metal concentration are mechanistically predicted on the basis of plant water use, metal concentration in soil solution, soil density, plant root distribution and our so-called root-absorption factor. The root-absorption factor is a `lumped parameter' describing the xylem/soil solution metal concentration quotient. Phytoextraction is considered to be a viable option if it can satisfy environmental regulations and simultaneously be shown to be the most cost-effective technology, either alone, or in combination with other remediation technologies. To date, commercial phytoextraction has been constrained by the expectation that site remediation should be achieved in a time comparable to other clean-up technologies. However, if phytoextraction could be combined with a profit making operation such as forestry, then this time constraint, which has often been considered to be the Achilles heel of phytoextraction, may be less important.