30 years of experience with the phytoremediation method

Abstract

The use of plants to remediate the soil from contaminants are focused on in this work. Salix is shown to be able to treat industrial contaminated soil from heavy metals and organics. A couple of examples are brought up. It is possible to decrease the concentration of the pollutants under the less sensitive limit value (MKM) during 4-6 years Salix treatment. The plant is also used to clean agricultural soil from cadmium to decrease the cadmium content in post-grown wheat grains with 33% during 4 years Salix cultivation. Wetland plants can prevent weathering of mine tailings decreasing the metal and arsenic outlet to the recipient by preventing pH decrease in the tailings.