Phytoremediation—a technique using plants to remove contaminants from soils has become a topic in current research. The basic concept and contents of phytoremediation has been summarized with examples illustrated in this paper. Phytoremdiation can be subdivided into phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizofitration and phytovolotization. The technique are based on a series number of special plants which are tolerant to some toxic heavy metals or metalloids, and/or can accumulate these metals or metalloids in their above ground parts. Some kinds of such tolerant or accumulating plants have been intensively investigated and even applied in the field, in most cases with addition of chemical chelator such as EDTA to enhance phytoextraction effect, or chemical amendments such as lime, phosphor minerals, beringite, fly ash, sewage sludge and biosolids to enhance phytostabilization of toxic and hazardous elements. The authors also give a brief introduction of some case studies of phytoremediation on its effectiveness and economical advantage.
The paper concluded that multi-channel approaches should be taken to make phytoremediation commercial and engineering available, including more deep studies on tolerance and accumulation mechanisms, field survey at more place to try to search for more tolerant and accumulating plants which may provide great values for the breakthrough of phytoremediation technique. Studies on phytoremdiation processes such as methods for enhancing biomass and accumulation capacity of plants as well as their ecological impact are also high desirable.