The Role of Phytoremediation in Remediation of Industrial Waste

Scientific Essay from the year 2016 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Physical Geography Geomorphology Environmental Studies language: English abstract: This text summarizes the role of phytoremediation in the remediation of industrial waste water since this waste water has become a threat to water quality. Several technologies are available to remediate water that is contaminated by industrial pollutant. However many of these technologies are costly (e.g. excavation of contaminated material and chemical/physical treatment) or do not achieve a long-term nor aesthetic solution. Phytoremediation can provide a cost-effective long-lasting and aesthetic solution for remediation of contaminated sites. In many cases especially in tropical or subtropical areas invasive plants such as the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (P. stratiotes L.) are used in these phytoremediation water systems. This is because compared to native plants these invasive plants show a much higher nutrient removal efficiency with their high nutrient uptake capacity fast growth rate and big biomass production. In the active growth season for instance water hyacinth plants can double in number and biomass in 6 to 15 days. This study shows the importance of phytoremediation in the phytoremediation of industrial waste.