Phytoremediation as an approach to clean up contaminated soil, including petroleum product contamination

Abstract

Contamination of the natural environment with crude oil and its byproducts is an increasing problem which requires immediate and effective action. With the higher demand for hydrocarbons, the amount of resources being extracted, transported, and stored has grown significantly. The main types of removal involve mechanical, chemical, and biological methods. Currently, the most commonly used biological approach relies on microbial – mainly bacterial – abilities to degrade toxic substances. However, studies indicate a significant impact of phytoremediation processes on contamination disposal. Several phytoremediation strategies are applied to remove various xenobiotics from the environment, namely, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, phytoevaporation, phytoextraction, and phytostimulation. More and more attention is being paid to the cooperation between plants and other organisms, primarily bacteria and fungi. The identification of microorganisms that play a key role in supporting the proper development, growth, and functioning of plants in a hostile environment is very important. The use of natural interdependencies occurring in the plant–microorganism system can be an excellent alternative to the more invasive remedial options (mechanical or chemical) available. The effectiveness of phytoremedia-tion treatment depends mainly on factors such as environmental conditions, the species of plant and microorganisms, and the type of contamination. Biological treatment is recognized by many scientists as one of the most valuable trends in contemporary environmental protection and ecosystem renewal. Due to the proven harmfulness of some hydrocarbons, it is very important to find and develop the most efficient and cost-effective methods of cleaning up different habitats. Phytoremediation can be used as an independent process or as a complementary element to other remediation methods.