Phytoremediation

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Phytoremediation

• By David Gonzalez
• Danny PosletBrittany Seyler
• (GPS)

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What is Phytoremediation?

• - The process of removing contamination from
  soil or water using plants.

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Common chemicals

• TCE(Trichlorethylene)- is a solvent that has been
  widley used as a spot remover in the dry cleaning
  industry for degreasing engine turbines as an
  ingredient for paints and cosmetics. Also it has
  been used as a anesthetic.
• Lead
• Heavy metals
• Toxins

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How does Phytoremediation work?

• The first process is Phytodegradation, which is
  when a plant takes in TCE and degrades it into
  CO2 and chlorinebefore released into the
  atmosphere.
• Another process is phytovolatilization which is
  when some chemicals are taken in and through the
  xylem and converted into a gas through the
  stomata of the plant.
• When plants go throught these processes they
  leave chemicals in stem for easy harvest.

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Process
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Types of plants
                              

• Cat tail
• Poplar tree
• Hyperaccumulators like Thlaspi possess genes
  that regulatethe amount of metals takenup from
  the soil by roots anddeposited at other
  locationswithin the plant.(K8784-10)

Alpine pennycress doesn't justthrive on soils
contaminatedwith zinc and cadmium it cleansthem
up by removing the excessmetals.
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Heavy metals

Arsenic Cadmium Lead Aluminum Beryllium Copper Iron Mercury Nickel These persist in soils and are toxic to animals even in small quantities
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Conveniences

• Lets see do the cost out way the benefits?
• Estimated cost are 50-80 lower than clean up
  stratigies invloving digging and dumping
  contaminated soil elsewhere.
• Also the stems of the plants can be harvested or
  up rooted and stored away.
• A negative effect though is that the plants
  leaves my release contaminents into the
  atmosphere but the plant will still help remove
  chemicals from polluted areas.
• Phytoremediation has promise for other
  contaiminets including tnt and other heavy metals.

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Example clip of real life uses

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vOUYTK9B2RSw