Phytotechnologies Applied to Contaminated Sites and Soils

Phytotechnologies are still an emerging field in the markets for soil management and remediation techniques. Yet, in principle, they offer technical and financial solutions that are particularly well-suited to sites with large contaminated areas. On a smaller scale, they can certainly serve as environmentally friendly alternatives for management objectives in contexts where treatment duration is not a constraint. The use of phytotechnologies is often discussed in the context of industrial or urban brownfield remediation projects, but is too rarely implemented due to a lack of practical experience. However, a number of pilot projects across the country, encouraged and supported by ADEME for several years, now make it possible to present lessons learned from various pollution scenarios and to provide a concrete overview of the benefits and limitations of the different solutions applied in the field. This guide provides an overview of the current operational status of phytotechnologies in France. It presents three techniques—phytostabilization, phytoextraction, and phyto/rhizodegradation—from technical, economic, and operational perspectives. It is intended for any project owner or engineering firm interested in using these phytotechnologies.

Authors: Valérie Bert, Anissa Hadj-Sahraoui, Corinne Leyval, Joël Fontaine, Stéphanie Ouvrard

EDP Sciences
2012

Link to the book