ABSTRACT
Pollution of soil and water by organic and inorganic pollutants is a global threat that has accelerated dramatically since the beginning of industrial revolution. Over the past few decades there has been avid interest in developing in situ strategies for remediation of environmental pollutants. Phytoremediation has emerged as the method of choice for cleaning up a broad range of environmental pollutants. This solar-driven, eco-friendly, green technology is often favored over more conventional methods of clean-up due to its low cost, low impact, and wider public acceptance. Phytoremediation uses different plant processes and mechanisms involved in the accumulation, complexation, volatilization, and degradation of organic and inorganic pollutants. The present work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of some promising phytoremediation processes and to illustrate such processes influencing organic and inorganic pollutant uptake through various biogeochemical processes including chelation, translocation, transformation, precipitation, solubilization, and complexation of heavy metals ultimately facilitating phytoremediation. Further, the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies are also discussed.
