Assessing the Efficiency of Phytoex

Assessing the Efficiency of Phytoextraction
Depending on heavy metal concentration in the contaminated soil and the target values sought for in the remediated soil, phytoextraction may involve repeated cropping of the plant until the metal concentration drops to acceptable levels. The ability of the plant to account for the decrease in soil metal concentrations as a function of metal uptake and biomass production plays an important role in achieving regulatory acceptance. Theoretically, metal removal can be accounted for by determining metal concentration in the plant, multiplied by the reduction in soil metal concentrations. It should, however, be borne in mind that this approach may be challenged by a number of factors working together during field applications. Practically, the bioaccumulation factor,