HEAVY METAL PHYTOREMEDIATION AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION POTENTIAL OF TREES: A SUSTAINABLE GREEN SOLUTION

Abstract

Phyto-remediation is a sustainable technology for several pollutants. Due to several reasons herbaceous model species are favored over trees in laboratory studies. However, there is shift in choice towards trees as they are gaining impetus over plants in field study because of their sustainability and effectiveness. Recent studies suggest that the trees have advantages to reduce the pollution. These trees can simultaneously provide significant ecological services which will contribute towards sustainable environment and ecosystem services. In order to use these trees, a better understanding of the context specific application and their valorization into various products is required. The current review article discusses on the removal of various metals such as boron, copper, cadmium, lead, lanthanum, zinc, aluminium, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium by trees. Trees like Betula sps, Dittrichia sps, Acacia sps, Rhus chinesis, Eucalyptus, Khaya, Salix sps and Populus sps. have metal removal ability in soil and water along with several valorized uses. Of these trees, it is observed that the species of Populus have shown that effective elimination of heavy metals from the environment. Range of experiments has been conducted from MS medium metal accumulation study to pot experiment where the tree was allowed to accumulate metal as in natural habitat.