Sustainability of Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soils

Dear Colleagues,

Phytoremediation, the use of plants to remediate soils with high amounts of heavy metals, such as zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium or copper, or other pollutants, such as hydrocarbons and pesticides, is a sustainable alternative to conventional remediation methods. These conventional methods, which can involve excavation or chemical treatment, are expensive and damage this non-renewable resource. Besides, they produce waste streams that are difficult to treat. The phytoremediation action may contribute to extracting contaminants from the soil, and it can also contribute to ameliorating the soil quality. The introduction of a vegetative cover to the contaminated soils minimises erosion and pollutant leaching and runoff into ground and surface waters, significantly contributing to protecting the ecosystem and providing ecosystem services. Phytoremediation also promotes biodiversity, creating habitats for various species of fauna and flora and the biomass produced can be harvested and converted into bioenergy or biomaterials. In the case of soils contaminated with heavy metals, it is also possible to recover some of the extracted metals, reducing the need for mining.

The phytoremediation efficiency depends on the type and concentration of contaminants, soil properties, climatic conditions and the selected crop to use. Although several projects are showing promising results, scaling up to large, contaminated areas may present some technical, logistical or legal challenges. The main technical challenges are related to the uneven distribution of contaminants throughout the soil. The logistical ones are mainly related to water management and availability, the economic profitability of phytoremediation, and the utilization/disposal of contaminated biomass. The use/disposal of contaminated biomass may be subject to compliance with hazardous waste regulations, which can be complex and costly. There may also be countries having strict soil and groundwater quality specifications, which phytoremediation may not be able to fulfil in reasonable timeframes. A supportive legal framework and favourable policies are essential for the successful implementation of phytoremediation projects. Overcoming these challenges and promoting international collaboration can make phytoremediation a viable option for large-scale environmental remediation efforts.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

• Optimization of phytoremediation practices (e.g., combined phytoremediation techniques, soil amendments, AMF-assisted phytoremediation, others).
• Mapping contaminated soils and modelling biomass production potential .
• Selection of high-yielding crops on contaminated soils, characterization of the biomass produced, characterization of the phytoremediation/phytoextraction capacity.
• Options for processing contaminated biomass, which may include pre-treatments, contaminant separation and recovery, biomass valorization for bioenergy, biofuels or bio-based products..
• Integrating phytoremediation with ecosystem services and decision-making.
• Environmental, economic and/or social impacts of crops production in contaminated soils and of biomass use (e.g., for bioenergy, bio-based products).

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jorge Costa
Dr. Ana Luisa Fernando
Guest Editors

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• phytoremediation
• ecosystem services
• contaminated soils
• ecological management
• sustainable soil management
• valorisation of contaminated biomass
• environmental impact assessment
• socio-economic impacts
• contaminants