ABSTRACT
Contamination of the environment by pollutants from various sources has become a huge problem worldwide. An environment that is contaminated can be harmful to all life forms. Therefore, efficient methods and technologies are urgently needed to speed up the reclamation process of contaminated areas. Phytoremediation is an upcoming technology that is well appreciated as this technology makes use of the ability of plants in environmental clean-up. It involves the utilization of plants to eliminate, stabilize, or degrade contaminants present in soil or water. Similarly, nanotechnology that includes nanoparticles (NPs) with a large surface area and great absorption capacities is also a favorable technology for the remediation of contaminated areas. Integrating nanotechnology and phytoremediation into a hybrid technology called nano-phytoremediation can lead to more effective restoration of polluted areas. Nanomaterials can facilitate phytoremediation by enhancing the plant growth and bioavailability of pollutants or by eliminating the pollutants directly from 18the medium. Various studies described that nano-phytoremediation can eliminate heavy metals like Cd, Pb, Zn, etc., and organic pollutants like chlorinated hydrocarbons, phenols, etc. Since this technology of nano-phytoremediation is in its infancy, more studies are required to identify the pros and cons and the advancement of knowledge in this field.
