Department of Defense Phytoremediation Failure

The readers of this blog have a better understanding of advanced phytoremediation systems than it looks like the Department of Defense has.  

An Asian grass can be the key to removing lead from contaminated soil

An Asian grass can be the key to removing lead from contaminated soil:

Sewan grass (Lasiurus scindicus Henrard) is a perennial grass that can live up to 20 years. It is a bushy, multi-branched desert grass with ascending to erect wiry stems, up to a height of 1-1.6 m, and a stout woody rhizome (FAO, 2010; Ecocrop, 2010). Leaves are alternate with a thin leaf-blade. The inflorescence is a silky, 10 cm long raceme bearing hairy spikelets. The fruit is a caryopsis (Anon., 2010; eFloras, 2010; FAO, 2010; Burkill, 1985).

Sewan grass forms bushy thickets in sandy deserts where it is used for pasture, hay and fodder for livestock. This grazing pasture is of outmost importance in areas where annual rainfall is below 250 mm (Ecocrop, 2010). It is relished by ruminants but does not stand heavy grazing and disappears when overgrazed (El-Keblawy et al., 2009).

Modern agricultural practices have left long-lasting environmental damage, but the latest trend in scientific research – which looks for natural ways of reversing this damage – is hopeful.

Research from JECRC University in India is no exception, as they found a process which restores soil that has been polluted with lead. The study, published in the American […] For the study, researchers utilized phytoremediation to remove the lead from contaminated soil.
Defined as “the efficient use of plants to remove, detoxify or immobilize environmental contaminants in a growth matrix (soil, water or sediments) through the natural biological, chemical or physical activities and processes of the plant,” the procedure refers to a number of technologies that use plants to remove both organic and inorganic contaminants in soil and water.

 In this procedure, plants are grown in polluted soil to either remove a contaminant, contain it in their roots, or even degrade it completely. These plants are then harvested, processed, and disposed of.

The team first collected soil and water samples that have been contaminated by lead and put these in pots in differing concentrations. They then sowed sewan grass over a 105-day pot trial period. During this time, the team regularly sampled the soil and water to evaluate the amount of heavy metal was present in the soil.



Based on the findings, the researchers discovered that lead adversely affected the growth of sewan grass from the experiment. However, they also found that it was receptive to the lead and that the roots had accumulated it. During the samples, they found increased concentrations of lead in the roots on the 45th and 65th day after exposure.



“The lead accumulation in Lasiurus scindicus (mostly in its roots) confirming its potentiality as a phytoremediator and due to polluted soil pH high amount of lead accumulated in root compare to [the leaves],” the researchers concluded. They also looked at the potential of the grass to be further developed to restore lead-polluted soil.

Phytoremediation Raft Remove Toxic Pollutants Water

The following photos are examples of where ElectroHemp Phytoremediation Raft designs can be designed to remove any number or combination of toxic pollutants found in water sources from Bridgetown and Westlake Landfill this would stop the pollution from entering the Public Water Supply, as pointed out by Alex Cohen.

The above 3 photos courtesy Environmental Activist and Humanitarian Alex Cohen- https://m.faceboAlex Cohen.
ElectroHemp Phytoremediation Rafts Remediation Example for decontamination of water.

ElectroHemp Phytoremediation Rafts

Natural biofilters for toxic metals

The following Science Paper highlights how ElectroHemp Phytoremediation Rafts can be used as Biofilters to clean pollution from water sources.

Phytoremediation Raft Infographic- Plants cycle water toxins when grown on Rafts

a wide variety of agricultural and forestry by products have been used as biosorbents of toxic metals in a bid to develop biofilters for specific applications Electronic Journal of Biotechnology: 

The added benefit of how ElectroHemp equips these rafts with Electrokinetics will actually increase the toxic contamination removal because of the forced migration of the toxins is directed towards the rafts and plants roots which growing on the Phytoremediation Rafts.

ElectroHemp Phytoremediation Raft designs can be designed to remove any number or combination of toxic pollutants found in water sources.

 Real Life Example phytoremediation raft design for the removal of Lead (Pb) from Water

A floating phytoremediation raft constructed of: waste tea leaves, Pinus pinaster bark, Olea europea, Acacia nilotica bark. Which has these plant examples growing on it: Kenaf, Water Lettuce, Alligator Weed create a combination of Natural Solutions in the detoxification of Lead (Pb) from water. Scotty, ElectroHemp 

Phytoremediation Science Paper link

• i) Cotton - Hg; Groundnut skins - Cu; 
• Tree Bark (Pinus, Acacia etc.) - variety of metals; 
• Agrowaste - variery of metals; 
• waste tea leaves - Pb, Cd, and Zn; 
• Pinus radiata -U; 
• Apple waste -Variety of metals; 
• Cellulose - Variety of metals; Rice hulls - Variety of metals; 
• Exhausted coffee grounds - Hg; 
• Pinus pinaster bark - Zn, Cu, Pb. Saw mill dust (wood waste)- Cr; 
• Freshwater green algae - variety of metals; 
• Marine algae- Pb, Ni; 
• ii) Sphagnum (moss peat) - Cr(VI); 
• iii) Immobilized Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae - Cd, Cu, Pb, and Ni ; 
• Olive mill waste Olea europea Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Zn, Cu and Ni; 
• Streptomyces rimosus (bacteria); 
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast); 
• Penicillium chrysogenum (fungi), Fuscus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum (marine algae) Zn, Cu andNi; Phanerochaete chrysosporium, P. versicolar - Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, Cu; Pinus radiata - U;
• Immobilized Pseudomonas putida 5-X and Aspergillus niger, Mucor rouxxi - Cu; 
• Actionomycetes, Aspergillus niger, A.oryzae, Rhizopus arrhizus, R. nigricans- Cd; Rhizopus arrhizus - Cr(VI), Pb; Rhizopus nigricans, Phanarochaete chrysogenum -Pb; Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus arrhizus - Ni 

Acacia nilotica bark serves as an adsorbent of toxic metals. Bark (1 g) when added to 100 ml of aqueous solution containing 10 mg ml-1 metal solution exhibited different metal adsorption values for different metals. The order of metal adsorption being Cr > Ni > Cu > Cd> As > Pb. A similar trend of metal adsorption was observed when the bark is reused (1strecycle) Cr > Ni > Cu > Cd > Pb and also in the column-sorption. In order to verify the metal removal property of A. nilotica bark, toxicity bioassay with Salix viminalis stem cuttings in hydroponic system augmented with Cd, Cr and Pb together with A. nilotica bark powder was carried out. The results of toxicity bioassay confirmed the metal adsorption property of the bark powder. The functions of toxicity studies include leaf area, root length and number of new root primordia produced per stump. The leaf area, root length and number of new root primordia increased considerably in the presence of A. nilotica bark. The order of metal toxicity for leaf area and new root primordial is Cd > Cr > Pb. However, for root length the order of metal toxicity is Cr > Cd > Pb. The metal budgets of the leaf and root confirmed that the bark powder had adsorbed substantial amount of toxic metals and thus, alleviates the toxicity imposed by the various tested elements (Prasad et al. 2001).

Quercus ilex L. phytomass from stem, leaf and root as adsorbent of chromium, nickel, copper, cadmium and lead at ambient temperature was investigated. The metal uptake capacity of the root for different metals was found to be in the order of: Ni > Cd > Pb > Cu > Cr; stem Ni > Pb> Cu > Cd > Cr and leaf Ni > Cd > Cu > Pb > Cr. The highest amount adsorbed was Ni (root > leaf > stem). Data from this laboratory demonstrated that Ni is mostly sequestered in the roots where concentrations can be as high as 7.30 nmol/g dry weight, when one year old seedlings were treated with Ni (2000 mg/l) in pot culture experiments, compared to 0.13 nmol/g dry weight, in the control. This proves that the root biomass of Q. ilex has the capacity for complexing Ni. Chromium exhibited the least adsorption values for all the three types of phytomass compared to other metals. The trend of adsorption of the phytomass was similar for nickel and cadmium i.e. root > leaf > stem. Desorption with 10 mM Na2 EDTA was effective (55-90%). Hence, there exists the possibility of recycling the phytomass. The biosorption results of recycled phytomass suggests, that the selected adsorbents are reusable (Prasad and Freitas, 2000).

RXleaf- Hemp Cleans Up Radioactive Soil

It's great that RX leaf highlights the value of using Hemp to clean up Radioactive Soil in their Article

Many people get this. But don't realize: 
1) what is the next step? What's a person do with a bunch of toxic plants? 
2) what about the places in the soil that the hemp roots don't come in contact with the toxins? Meaning the toxins are still there. 
3) 99% of any science papers all say: phytoremediation takes a long time. Who wants to wait, when the toxins need removed asap? 
4) shouldn't all birds, animals, and humans be kept away from toxic Hemp plants? Fences don't stop birds, animals, or people. 
5) lots of plants can be used for phytoremediation (400 that I'm aware of). Is it better to have a huge plant to dispose of with X amount of toxins or a smaller plant with the same X amount of toxins? ....

I agree Hemp is great, and is even greater when used in combination with the system our team has figured out that both speeds up the toxic removal and also disposes it safely eliminating all the hazards that so many don't realize.

It's not rocket science, it's phyto science. And the #ElectroHemp system also turns the hazardous waste infected plants into cash!
Learn more at the https://m.facebook.com/HempEnvironmentalForum/ or the blogs: #ElectroHemp and #MOHempEnergy

Water Retention Increases Bioavailability

Great article that supports the basic principles of bioremediation- increased organic plant material in soil helps hold water.

Just a 1% organic matter increase over a wide area translates into millions of gallons of water retention ability.

Water retention and increased bioavailability in the soil will boost the #phytoextraction (intake + absorbing​ into plant (toxic removal)) by the process called #phytoremediation which can be accomplished by any number of plants.

https://plus.google.com/+scottscontracting/posts/hDjAt2rHhoQ?_utm_source=1-2-2