Reference

Yes, the metals extracted during phytoremediation can be reused. Here’s how this process typically works:

1. Harvesting and Processing: Plants used in phytoremediation (also known as hyperaccumulators) absorb metals from contaminated soils. Once the plants have absorbed a significant amount of metals, they are harvested.

2. Biomass Treatment: After harvesting, the biomass containing the metals can be processed in several ways:

   • Drying and Incineration: The plants are dried and incinerated to reduce their volume. The ash produced from incineration contains a concentrated amount of the metals.
   • Composting: Sometimes, the plants are composted, but this method is less common due to the potential risk of recontaminating the soil.

3. Metal Recovery and Recycling: The metals can be extracted from the ash using various chemical and physical processes. These metals can then be reused for industrial purposes. Certain metals, such as nickel, have shown promising potential for recovery and reuse, a process known as “phytomining.”

For further reading, you can refer to the following sources:

• A review on disposal and utilization of phytoremediation plants
• Phytoremediation of soil metals
• Managing Phytoremediators

Images

These images illustrate the overall process of phytoremediation and the hyperaccumulation cycle.