Question

4) What is bioremediation? What makes some plants particularly useful in bioremediation?

Answer 1

Bioremediation is a waste management technique that involves the use of organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site.

According to the EPA, Bioremediation is a treatment that uses naturally occurring organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non toxic substances.

Microbes are often used to remedy environmental problems found in soil, water, and sediments. Plants have also been used to assist bioremediation processes. This is called phytoremediation. It is defined as -the use of green plants and the associated microorganisms, along with proper soil amendments and agronomic techniques to either contain, remove or render toxic environmental contaminants harmless.

Toxic heavy metals and organic pollutants are the major targets for phytoremediation.

Plants use solar energy (through photosynthesis) to extract chemicals from the soil and to deposit them in the above-ground part of their bodies, or to convert them to a less toxic form. These plants can then be harvested and treated, removing the pollutants.

Not all plants are able to accumulate heavy metals or organics pollutants due to differences the physiology of the plant.Even cultivars within the same species have varying abilities to accumulate pollutants.

Many plants such as mustard plants, alpine pennycress, hemp, and pigweed have proven to be successful at hyperaccumulating contaminants at toxic waste sites.