Phytoremediation of Organic Contaminants: A Review of Phytoremediation Research at the University of Washington

As overwhelmingly positive results have become available regarding the ability of plants to degrade compounds such as trichloroethylene, phytoremediation studies are expanding. Studies to determine the potential for phytoremediation of fully chlorinated compounds, such as carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene, brominated compounds, such as ethylene dibromide and dibromochloropropane, and nonhalogenated compounds, such as methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE), are underway. When using phytoremediation, it is important to select not only a plant that is capable of degrading the pollutant in question, but also one that will grow well in that specific environment. In ecologically sensitive areas, such as the Hawaiian Islands, only plants native to the area can be used. One way to supplement the arsenal of plants available for remedial actions is to utilize genetic engineering tools to insert into plants those genes that will enable the plant to metabolize a particular pollutant. Hybrid technologies, such as usin...