How Do You Extract Organic Pollutants From Soil?
Phytoremediation is the use of plants to clean pollutants from soil. Plants can degrade pollutants directly, or microbial communities already in the soil can be enhanced to increase natural degradation processes. Phytoremediation is more environmentally friendly than intensive remedial techniques; however, certain conditions must be present to successfully clean pollutants from the soil. Phytoremediation relies on several biological processes. Enhanced rhizosphere biodegradation is a process in which roots provide the necessary oxygen, nutrients and water to naturally occurring microbes already present in the soil that degrade contaminants through metabolism. Plant roots must come into contact with the zone of contamination for success. Test the soil with an EPA method test kit to identify zone of contamination and concentration levels. If the zone of contamination is within 48 inches of the surface and levels are less than 250 ppm for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and less than 160
