Modelling phytoremediation: Concepts, methods, challenges and perspectives

• Published in: Soil & Environmental Health Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 100062
• Main Authors: Wang, Junye, Aghajani Delavar, Mojtaba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biogeochemical processes; Bioremediation; Competition-based model; Contaminated sites; Dynamic modelling; Environmental assessment; Hydrological process; Modelling integration; Reclamation; Soil–plant–atmosphere; Environmental assessment; Contaminated sites; Competition-based model; Modelling integration; Dynamic modelling; Reclamation; Biogeochemical processes; Soil–plant–atmosphere; Bioremediation; Hydrological process
• ISSN: 2949-9194; 2949-9194
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seh.2024.100062

Phytoremediation can be effective for the removal, immobilization, mineralization, and/or detoxification of various pollutants in soils and water, including inorganic and organic pollutants, and radioisotopes. Although the feasibility of phytoremediation has been proven in the last decades, its performance is uncertain due to the complex interactions among soil, water, plants, weather, microorganisms, and pollutants, leading to its underutilization globally. This paper aims to review the representations and methods for quantifying key phytoremediation processes via modelling. We examine the structures, methods and ability of phytoremediation models that characterize the biogeochemical, hydrological, and phenological processes accountable for phytoremediation dynamics, along with discussions about their advantages and limitations. Then, we identify the knowledge gaps and challenges in incorporating biogeochemical, hydrological, and phenological processes into phytoremediation models in contaminated sites and representing spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability in large-scale applications. The existing phytoremediation models are difficult to predict the phytoremediation period under real environmental conditions but it is a key assessment of phytoremediation performance and cost. Finally, we explore the opportunities to integrate the current knowledge from other disciplines, such as soil, agriculture, ecology, and plant research in a competition-based model. We highlight the key research priorities for effective integration of knowledge based on physical, chemical, and biological processes in modelling phytoremediation, including biogeochemical processes, soil amendments and agro-practices. Further studies need to consider the immobilization, mineralization and detoxification processes of pollutants in contaminated sites. [Display omitted] •Review concept and methods to identify knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities.•Disconnection remains in integrating physical, chemical, and biological processes.•Considerable uncertainties exist in predictions based on phytoremediation models.•More studies need to consider immobilization, mineralization, and detoxification.•Phytoremediation models need to consider agronomic practices and soil amendment.