Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Sustainable management of post-phytoremediation biomass

Santanu Mukherjee; Alessandra C. Leri; Chathurika Bandaranayaka; Edgar Vázquez-Núñez; Rocío Barros; Aqib Hassan Ali Khan; Pingfan Zhou; Tao Zhang; M.P. Bernal; Rafael Clemente; Nanthi Bolan

Energy Ecology and Environment · 2025

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Summary

This review examines the practical and environmental challenges associated with managing biomass generated following phytoremediation of contaminated terrestrial and aquatic environments. It addresses both organic and inorganic pollutants, exploring how their fate within plant material informs decisions about safe disposal or resource recovery. The paper likely synthesises current knowledge on valorisation pathways — such as pyrolysis, composting, and energy generation — whilst acknowledging the risks posed by residual contaminants in the biomass.

UK applicability

The findings are broadly applicable to UK conditions, where phytoremediation is increasingly considered for brownfield, mine-spoil, and industrially contaminated land remediation; UK regulators and land managers could draw on this review when developing guidance for post-phytoremediation biomass handling and disposal under existing waste and contaminated land legislation.

Key measures

Contaminant bioavailability; biomass contaminant concentrations; pollutant transfer pathways; biomass valorisation and disposal options

Outcomes reported

The study reviews the fate of organic and inorganic contaminants accumulated in phytoremediation biomass and evaluates strategies for its safe and sustainable management, including disposal, valorisation, and energy recovery options. It likely assesses the risks of contaminant transfer and the feasibility of converting post-phytoremediation biomass into useful products.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Contaminated land & remediation
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Contaminated land remediation
DOI
10.1007/s40974-025-00364-w
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-0f0

Topic tags

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