Phytoremediation is one of the biological wastewater
treatment methods[1], and is the concept of using
plants-based systems and microbiological processes to
eliminate contaminants in nature. The remediation
techniques utilize specific planting arrangements,
constructed wetlands (CW), floating-plant systems and
numerous other configurations[2]. The removal of
wastewater constituents are achieved by different
mechanis ms like sedimentation, filtration, chemical
precipitation, adsorption, microbial interactions, and uptake
of vegetation[3], among which, the most effective
technology is phytoremediation strategy using CW
technology. Besides water quality improvement and energy
savings, CWs have other environmental protection features
such as promoting biodiversity, providing habitat for
wetland organis ms and wildlife (e.g. birds and reptiles in
large systems)[4], serving climatic (e.g. less CO2
production[4]; hydrological functions and
biomethylation[5]). These systems are generally cost
effective, simple, environmentally non-disruptive[1,6]
ecologically sound[7] with low maintenance cost[8] and low
land requirements[9].
The principles of phytoremediation systemare to clean up