Phytoremediation and Bioremediation of Land Contaminated by Hydrocarbons: Modeling and Field Applications

Phytoremediation which uses plants to enhance the bioremediation through stimulation of microbial activity and root uptake, has been a topic of increasing interest. Mathematical model were developed that can be applied to various bioremediation methods in the unsaturated zone, especially phytoremediation, for simulating the fate and transport of contaminants under field conditions. A 2-year field study was conducted using 72 (1.5m long and 0.1 m diameter) column lysimeters with four treatments: Johnsongrass; wild rye grass; a rotation of Johnsongrass and wild rye grass; and unplanted fallow conditions. The developed model represented the fate and transport of contaminant both in vegetated and unplanted soils satisfactorily for field applications. Parameters related to the contaminant concentration in the water phase were the main parameters determining the contaminant fate in the vadose zone and indicated that the bioavailability can be the most important factor in the success of phytoremediation as well as bioremediation applications.