Methods for removing pollutants from contaminated soil materials with a fern plant
AssigneeUniversity of Florida
InventorsLena Q. Ma, Ken M. Komar, Elizabeth D. Kennelley
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Abstract
The invention provides processes and materials for phytoremediating materials which has been contaminated with arsenic, phosphorous, or other metals. In a preferred embodiment, the subject invention provides fern plants, which accumulate arsenic from contaminated materials. The fern plants efficiently remove arsenic from the materials. The fern plants can be harvested and readily disposed of, or can be treated to recover arsenic.
Claims50
A process for removing a pollutant from a contaminated soil material wherein said process comprise the steps of:
- planting a fern plant selected from the group consisting of Pteridaceae, Adiantaceae, Aspleniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, and Oleandraceae, on said soil material;
- wherein said pollutant accumulates within biomass of the fern plant by phytoremediation to a level of at least 1% on a dry weight basis of the biomass of the fern plants, said pollutant selected from the group consisting of arsenic, copper and chromium, whereby the fern plant removes said pollutant from said soil material.
A process for recovering a pollutant present in a soil material comprising the steps of:
- planting a fern plant selected from the group consisting of Pteridiaceae, Adiantaceae, Aspleniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, and Oleandraceae, on said soil material;
- wherein the pollutant accumulates within biomass of the fern plant by phytoremediation, the pollutant selected from the group consisting of arsenic, copper and chromium, such that said pollutant accumulates in portions of said fern plant, said portions selected from the group consisting of leaves, stems, fronds and roots.
A method of phytoremediating arsenic containing soil material comprising the steps of:
- planting a fern plant in said soil material, the fern plant selected from the group consisting of Pteridiaceae, Adiantaceae, Aspleniaceae. Dryopteridaceae, and Oleandraceae;
- wherein the fern plant accumulates a concentration of arsenic by phytoremediation;
- and harvesting said plant, whereby said arsenic containing soil material has a reduced arsenic content.
A method of phytoremediating soil material containing a pollutant selected from the group consisting of copper and chromium, comprising the steps of:
- planting a fern plant in said soil, the fern plant selected from the group consisting of, Pteridiaceae, Adiantaceae, Aspleniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, and Oleandraceae;
- wherein the fern plant accumulates a concentration of said pollutant by phytoremediation;
- and harvesting said plant, whereby said pollutant containing said material has a reduced pollutant content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.