Phytoremediation EPA Field Research

Phytoremediation and prior EPA Field demonstrated projects to remediate heavy metals proves Bioremediation is a viable and cost saving option for Radianuclides removal.
The EPA has previously listed about 194 ongoing Phytoremediation / bioremediation field research projects. Yr 2000

194 ongoing phytoremediation field research projects, EPA 

Heavy metals and radionuclides represent about 30% of this activity supporting that bioremediation is a feasible technology to decontaminate the environment. 

Unlike many organic contaminants most:

•  metals and radionuclides cannot be eliminated from the environment by chemical or biological transformation. 
• Although it may be possible to reduce the toxicity of certain metals by influencing their speciation, 
• they do not degrade and are persistent in the environment. 

The conventional remediation technologies that are used to clean heavy metal polluted environments are:

• soil in situ vitrification
• soil incineration
• excavation and landfill
• soil washing
• soil flushing
• solidification
• stabilization with electrokinetic systems 

Source: Electronic Journal of Biotechnology

Phytoremediation Alligator Weed Lead + Mercury

Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) was used for removal of lead and mercury from polluted waters. It is possible to use these species to restore the biosolid and sewage sludge contaminated sites, while exercising caution on human consumption.

Phytoremediation with Alligator Weed to remove Lead and Mercury from water.

Alternanthera philoxeroides, commonly referred to as alligator weed, is a native species to the temperate regions of South America, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Argentina alone, hosts around 27 species that fall within the range of the genus Alternanthera. Wikipedia

Article Science paper: Metal hyperaccumulation in plants - Biodiversity prospecting for phytoremediation technologys source Edible plants and vegetables crops plants and vegetables crops

The dominant leaf vegetable producing species viz. Amaranthus spinosus, Alternanthera philoxeroides and A. sessiles growing on the sewage sludge of Musi river located in greater Hyderabad City (close to 17º26' N latitude and 78º27' E longitude), Andhra Pradesh, India was investigated for metal accumulation. 

• The transfer factor for metals was calculated Metal content in plant part (dry wt.)/ Metal content in soil (dry.wt).
• Transfer factor and metal content Cd (non-essential), Zn and Fe (essential) in plant parts of these selected species indicate their aility to bioconcentrate in their tissues (Figure 12). 
• The concentration of these metals is invariably high in leaf tissue (Bañuelos and Meek, 1989; Prasad, 2001b). 
• Thus, it is possible to use these species to restore the biosolid and sewage sludge contaminated sites, while exercising caution on human consumption. 
  

 It is also possible to supplement the dietary requirement of human food with Zn and Fe as these being essential nutrients and the plant species are edible. 

[Warning] However, there is a need to monitor the metal transfer factor through food chain (Bañuelos and Meek, 1989; Bañuelos et al. 1993a; Bañuelos et al. 1993b).

Alligator Weed description courtesy of Wikipedia- Alternanthera philoxeroides can thrive in both dry and aquatic environments and is characterized by whitish, papery flowers along its short stalks, irregular, or sprawling hollow stems, and simple and opposite leave pattern sprouting from its nodes. The species is dioecious. It is also considered a herbaceous plant due to its short-lived shoot system. It produces horizontal stems, otherwise known as stolons, that can sprout up to 10 m in length and thanks to its hollow stems, floats easily. This results in large clusters of stem to amass and create dense mats along the surface. The plant flowers from December to April and usually grows around 13 mm in diameter and tend to be papery and ball-shaped. The weed's intricate root system can either allow them to hang free in the water to absorb nutrients or directly penetrate the soil/sediment and pull their nutrients from below.

Hemp PFAS groundwater remediation

Too bad the EPA Scientist weren't interested in Solving the Pollution that is contaminating this earth. https://t.co/Kp1JDyrJKq https://t.co/estfCyq4uY

— systembuster (@stlsystembuster) November 14, 2022

Researcher Dr Brett Turner from Newcastle University and his team have developed a natural and effective solution for removing toxic PFAS chemicals from groundwater.

Episode Notes

Researcher Dr Brett Turner from Newcastle University and his team have developed a natural and effective solution for removing toxic PFAS chemicals from groundwater.

 

He also explains how their research is also looking at how hemp plants can be used to remediate PFAS contaminated soil. 

University of Newcastle researchers are on track to create a solution to per-and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, in a project that could benefit the Williamtown community and countless other sites across the world. 

L to R: Research team members Mr Glenn Currell, Dr Brett Turner and Dr Dan Bishop.

Dr Brett Turner and a team from the University’s Priority Research Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering, are to continue investigating the use of hemp seed proteins, and the hemp plant itself, to treat water and soil contaminated with PFAS. As announced in the 2019-2020 budget, the Federal Government has awarded $4.7m to the researchers for this work.

The man-made chemicals known as PFASs have been widely used in food wrappers, textile stains, non-stick cooking utensils, carpet and furniture protectants, insecticides, electronics, and in fire-fighting foams, as they are highly effective against hydrocarbon fuel fires.

Within Australia a number of sites have been identified as having groundwater and soil contaminated with PFAS including the Williamtown RAAF base in NSW; Oakey Aviation Centre in QLD, and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) training facility in Fiskville VIC.

Globally, the extent of this problem is even greater, with more than 41,000 airports in the world, many of which are potentially contaminated with PFAS. Considered almost non-degradable in nature, many conventional treatments for PFAS remediation are not effective, yet the costs of PFAS remediation technologies are exorbitant.

Dr Turner said the team’s early findings, supported by an initial $600,000 grant through the NSW Government’s Research Attraction and Acceleration Program, were being further explored, and applied to the more complex challenge of contaminated soil.

“We found that hemp has a remarkable affinity for PFAS chemicals in groundwater, so we expect that this can be applied to remediate contaminated soil – an area where currently there are no options,” Dr Turner said.

Director of the Priority Research Centre and 2015 NSW Scientist of the Year, Laureate Professor Scott Sloan said the next stage of the research would pioneer a more cost-effective way of removing chemical compounds from soil, groundwater and surface waters in a natural way.

“We are excited about the potential benefits for the residents around our local RAAF base at Williamtown, and for other affected communities worldwide,” Laureate Professor Sloan said.

The $4.7m funding has been awarded through the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science over five years. This research is also supported by the University of Newcastle with additional funding of $1.5m.

“We’d like to thank the Government for the funding, as well as Senator Brian Burston for his significant efforts in helping to secure it,” Dr Brett Turner said.

“This critical grant will allow us to increase our team, employing three Doctoral Fellows, four PhD students and a research technician. We look forward to continuing the hard work, and pioneering a local solution to a global problem.”

Here is the audio recording see photos below of the system Scotty with ElectoHemp has been designing and working on.

Missouri Politicians and MO Dept Ag

It's time to get proactive instead of reactive and create the infastructure needed to capitalize on the budding Hemp Industry.

One of the ways Hemp can help the State of Missouri is by removing the pollution in soil and water with the system ElectroHemp has designed 

It's not Rocket Science it's Phyto Science. The Magic Happens in the Roots of the Plants as they absorb the pollution. Scotty link

Kentucky quickly submits its hemp oversight plan to USDA

By BRUCE SCHREINER, December 20, 2018

In 2018, Kentucky farmers planted more than 6,700 acres (2,710 hectares) of hemp — more than twice last year’s production, according to the state’s agriculture department. More than 70 Kentucky processors are turning the plant into products. Those processors paid $7.5 million to Kentucky growers in 2017 to help supply hemp and reported $16.7 million in gross product sales, the state agriculture department said.

That’s barely a blip on the radar for Kentucky’s diversified agriculture sector.

But the state’s agriculture department received more than 1,000 applications from farmers and processors looking to participate in the 2019 hemp program. In another sign of hemp’s growing popularity, an informational and networking session in October in Elizabethtown drew about 750 farmers, processors, manufacturers and others interested in hemp, the department said.

ElectroHemp is entering: Innovating Soil 3.0 Contest

It's official, ElectroHemp has entered the FoodShot Global  contest! 

Announcement middle January

ElectroHemp has entered the FoodShot Global  contest! 

Have you heard about the 2018-2019 FoodShot Global event that will be promoting soil health to increase food safety? 

ElectroHemp will be entering the process and system that organically cleans soil and water, better known as green remediation in the FoodShot’s first annual challenge — Innovating Soil 3.0. 

ElectroHemp will be competing and in the running for up to $10 million in equity funding and $20 million in debt funding!!!

Rajiv Singh, co-chairman of FoodShot Global, wrote on Agfunder about the contest: a search for projects and ideas that utilize the latest in technology, science, and engineering to address the crisis of soil deterioration. In particular, he writes about how a diverse set of technologies can be brought to bear to improve the conditions of the world’s soils, from machinery and equipment to low-tech farming practices, to carbon sequestration tools.

FoodShot Global Our Story 

Why is the food we eat making us sick? Why is good food more expensive? Why is there growing hunger and malnutrition in a world of plenty? Why does farming pollute and degrade our land, water, and air? 
There is a simple answer: the food system is broken. So let’s fix it. There is a better way. 
FoodShot is a collaborative platform of innovators, investors, industry leaders, and advocates who are working together to solve our biggest food system challenges.   By connecting knowledge, networks, and funding across the private and public sectors, FoodShot creates scalable, impactful, and inspired solutions – MoonShots For Better Food. 
With a global network of food industry leaders and aligned equity, debt, and prize dollars; FoodShot empowers best-in-class entrepreneurs, researchers, and advocates to transform the most critical food system challenges into opportunities for collaborative investment and meaningful change.
PROGRAM AND PROCESS  
On an annual basis, FoodShot will undertake the following,
DEFINE an annual FoodShot challenge. 
SEARCH for ground-breaking FoodShot entrepreneurs, researchers, and advocates.
VET submissions according to defined criteria.
AWARD aligned equity, debt, and non-dilutive capital to world-class ideas and businesses that are scalable, impactful, and inspired solutions to the challenge.
SCALE by leveraging a global network of stakeholders in food and agriculture. 
ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT of key thought-leaders in innovation, investment, industry and policy.  
Learn more about the Food Shot Global Opportunities at their Facebook Page Foodshot Global Facebook Page
And while you are on Facebook feel free to drop by the Hemp Environmental Forum Facebook page where Scotty also shares information about the ElectroHemp system and process and wish us luck!

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

Reduction of Uranium

...the reduction of uranium was done by quantifying the fraction of uranium in both the soluble and insoluble pools. 

• Uranium in the cultures spiked to 3 μM shifted from ~90% soluble at the T0 time point for all 3 concentrations to 70–97% insoluble by the end of the 24 day incubations (Fig 3). 
• A mass balance indicated that 93–102% of the added uranium could be accounted for in the soluble/insoluble pools. 
• Interestingly, the bacterium also reduced uranium as efficiently at 5 and 10 μM concentration (up to 97%-S2 Fig). 
• However, the percent of soluble uranium at the T0 sampling time point was 78% for the 5 μM and 18% for the 10 μM treatments. Presumably, the bacteria were stimulated by the prior exposure to uranium during transfer and began reducing the radionuclide before the T0 samples could be collected. link