Phytomining: a sustainable approach for heavy metal removal

Researchers are learning more about how plants fight off the harmful effects of heavy metal pollutants as the environment gets worse with these pollutants. Also, investigation on how to better manage these pollutants sustainably are on the rise. Phytomining is a phytoremediation technique that utilizes plants to extract precious heavy metals from mineralized or contaminated soils to generate revenue. This can be achieved by recovering valuable levels of metals from the biomass of plants. Aside, being a sustainable and cost-effective technique, phytomining financial viability depends on valuable biomass of obtained from the contaminated environments. Natural heavy metal hyperaccumulators are currently attracting attention due to the enormous opportunities presented by phytomining. Hyperaccumulator plants such as Berkheya coddii, Eleocharis acicularis, and Myriophyllum aquaticum are some of the efficient plants for phytomining of heavy metals. Genetic engineering of specific species of hyperaccumulators of certain heavy metals could improve the efficiency of phytomining technology. Potential biorefineries using phytomining techniques could be supported by the circular bioeconomy of heavy metals. Thus making appropriate the reuse of high-value heavy metals (Au, Co, Cu, and Ni) from polluted sites and also concentrating valuable heavy metals within the plants from mines with low concentration. This review highlights the potential use of phytomining in the cleanup of heavy metal contaminated sites as well as wealth creation. Thereby, making heavy metal phytomining a promising bioremediation strategy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bioeconomy ، Biorefineries ، Genetic engineering ، Hyperaccumulator plants ، Wealth creation