Phytoremediation:
Using Plants for Environmental Clean-up
Phytoremediation is a general term used to describe various mechanisms by which living plants alter the chemical composition of the soil matrix in which they are growing. Essentially, it is the use of green plants to clean up contaminated soils, sediments, or water.

Phytoremediation Advantages:

  • Phytoremediation costs are much less than traditional in situ and ex situ processes
  • Plants can be easily monitored to ensure proper growth
  • It is the least destructive method of remediation because it utilizes natural organisms and solar power via photosynthesis

Sand Creek.s Role in the Early development of Phytotechnologies

  • Phytotechnologies, (or Phytoremediation as it is also known) entered the environmental engineering toolbox (and lexicon) in the mid-to-late 1990.s. Sand Creek was at the forefront of the technology.s innovation then, and has remained there as it has rapidly moved from the .innovative. category into today.s more widespread deployment. A summary of some of Sand Creek.s accomplishments over these early years is available here.

Selected Sand Creek Project Examples


Sand Creek: North America's Leader in Phytotechnology Applications

See EPA’s “Citizens Guide to Phytoremediation”
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