Introduction to Phytoremediation

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Introduction to Phytoremediation

• EPA/600/R-99/107
• February 2000
• http//clu-in.org/download/remed/introphyto.pdf

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Phytoremediation Overview
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Phytohydraulics
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Phytodegradation
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Phytoextraction
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Phytostabilization
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Phytovolatalization
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Rhizodegradation
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Rhizofiltration
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Phytoremediation practice
Normal plant
Engineered plant thrive on arsenic
Poplar trees
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Phytoremediation of Selenium by two helophyte
species in subsurface flow constructed
wetland. Shardendu, N. Salhani, S.F. Boulyga, E.
Stengel Chemosphere 50 (2003) 967-973
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Key Species in Study

• Phragmites australis
• Known as the Common reed
• Native to Florida
• Very large grass (up to 16 feet tall)
• Grows in colonies in several feet of water or
  along moist shores (Florida, 2002).

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Key Species in Study

• Typha latifolia
• Common Cattail
• Can be up to 10 feet tall
• Found nearly worldwide
• Can be found almost anywhere soil remains wet,
  saturated, or flooded most of the growing season
  (Typha, 2002).

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Constructed Wetlands

• Defined as a designed and man-made complex of
  saturated substrates, emergent and submergent
  vegetation, animal life, and water that simulates
  natural wetlands for human use and benefits."
  (Hammer, 1989)
• Constructed wetlands is one method used to help
  purify wastewaters.

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Constructed Wetlands
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AMOVA Facility
Fig. 1. Outline of the experimental device for
tap layer supplying with sodium selenate
(Na2SeO4) in one vegetated bed with sampling
points (AMOVA facility).
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Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
(ICP-MS)
Plasma, Argon gas, is used to atomize and ionize
the elements in a sample. The resulting ions are
then passed through a series of apertures (cones)
into the high vacuum analyzer. The isotopes of
the elements are identified by their
mass-to-charge ratio (m/e) and the intensity of a
specific peak in the mass spectrum is
proportional to the amount of that isotope
(element) in the original sample.
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What is Selenium?

• Naturally occurring element
• Found in most rocks and soils combines with
  silver, copper, lead, and nickel minerals
• Metallic gray to black hexagonal crystals
• Most selenium is processed for the electronics
  industry, then for a nutritional supplement
• Also used as a nutritional feed additive for
  poultry and livestock, pesticide formulations,
  rubber production, antidandruff shampoos, and
  fungicides. (ATSDR, 2001)

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Why is Selenium Harmful?

• Low doses of selenium are necessary for
  maintaining good health
• Chronic Oral Exposure of high levels of selenium
  can cause the disease, selenosis.
• The major symptoms are hair loss, brittle nails,
  neurological abnormalities
• Most laboratory studies show that selenium
  probably does not cause cancer. In fact,
  studies have shown that lower than normal
  selenium levels in the diet might increase the
  risk of cancer.
• EPA has determined that selenium sulfide is the
  only form of selenium that might be a human
  carcinogen.
• EPA restricts public drinking water to 50 ppb and
  OSHA restricts workroom air to 0.2 mg for an
  8-hour shift.
  (ATSDR,
  2001).

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Selenium Migration over Time
Fig. 2. Profile of selenium migration on first
day (May 31, 1999) from inlet to other points
and outlet in Phragmites, Typha (a) and gravel
bed (b). Sampling points 1, 2, 3 and 4, inlet
(I) and outlet (O).
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Selenium from Inlet to Outlet Over Time
Fig. 3. Inlet and outlet selenium concentration
with time duration in Typha and Phragmites beds
during full experiment period.
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Selenium Concentration Profiles
Fig. 4. Selenium concentration profiles(n12)
with RSD along the bed length in Typha,
Phragmites and control bed. () Under detection
limit (0.05 g Se/l).
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Oxygen Concentration, Water Temperature, and pH
Fig. 5. Course of mean (n7) oxygen concentration,
water temperature and pH values (a, b, c) with
RSD values and corresponding Se concentration at
different sampling points along the beds of
Typha, Phragmites and gravel control.
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Bioaccumulation
Fig. 6. Bioaccumulation of Se in belowground
(organic material, roots, rhizomes) and
aboveground (stems, leaves) parts of the plant
species at segment S1 and S4 (a) Se content in
Typha control (b) Se content in Phragmites
control (c) Se content in Typha after 65 d and
(d) Se content in Phragmites after 65 d. ()
Under detection limit (0.4 g Se/g dry matter).
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Conclusions

1. Phragmites is better equipped to uptake selenium
   in subsurface flows.
2. The density of Phragmites was about 7 times
   higher than the Typha. This explains why the
   flow of water through the Typha was so much
   quicker.
3. Selenium concentration was undetectable 3/4 into
   the Phragmites bed.
4. 54 of the original selenium concentration was
   measured at the Typha outlet
5. Phragmites accumulated selenium in its stems and
   leaves while the Typha held the selenium in its
   roots and rhizomes. This is important for
   harvesting techniques in the most economic and
   least destructive way.
6. 5) The oxygen concentration and pH value for
   Phragmites decreased at a higher rate over the
   course of each bed than the values for Typha

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References

• Aquatic Wetland and Invasive Plant Particulars
  and Photographs. University of Florida.
  http//aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/phraus.html. 2002
• USEPA, 2001, EPA 542 www.epa.gov/superfund/sites.
  
• Hammer, D.A.,1989, Constructed Wetlands for
  Wastewater Treatment Municipal, Industrial and
  Agricultural, ed. Lewis Publishers, Inc. Chelsea,
  Michigan.
• Payton, James, 1996, Constructed Wetlands,
  http//www.eng.auburn.edu/paytojd/wetland.html.
• Typha latifolia Common Cattail
  http//www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/aquatics/typh
  alat.html. 2002.
• www.missouri.edu/rjse10/home.htm Archaeometry
  Laboratory
• University of Missouri Research Reactor. 2002

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Brownfields
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Definition

• With certain legal exclusions and additions, the
  term brownfield site' means real property, the
  expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may
  be complicated by the presence or potential
  presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or
  contaminant
• The Brownfields Site definition is found in
  Public Law 107-118 (H.R. 2869) - "Small Business
  Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization
  Act" signed into law January 11, 2002.

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EPA Brownfields Program

• www.epa.gov/brownfields
• Results-oriented program started in 1995
• Brings together states, communities, and
  stakeholders in economic redevelopment
• Work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up
  and sustainably reuse brownfields
• 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. industrial
  sites, abandoned gas stations, dry cleaners,
  commercial operations

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What can Brownfields offer?

• Clean up environmental hazards
• Remove neighborhood eyesores
• Create jobs
• Boost tax revenue
• Provide housing
• General economic health in local communities

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Barriers to Brownfields

• Environmental liability
• Contaminated properties are subject to
  environmental regulations and procedures can
  lead to construction delays
• Pollution concerns

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www.brownfieldnews.com
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Milwaukee, WI
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Approaches for Brownfields

• View contaminated sites as an economic
  development issue with an environmental twist
• View projects as real-estate deals that further
  community development goals
• Begin cleanup and reuse with the end in mind
• Understand that regulatory processes need to
  dovetail with development time frames

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If contaminatedsites are viewed as only
pollution problems, disconnected from community
revitalization goals and economic development
strategies, then efforts to reuse these sites
will flounder.
www.neiwpcc.org/lustline.htm
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Baltimore, MD
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Chevy Place - Rochester, NY

• Car dealership/repair shop/gas station 1930
  1990
• Abandoned USTs
• Total cleanup costs, including remediation
  750,000

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Paper Mill Island, Baldwinsville
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NY DEC Brownfields