Phytoremediation: advances in soil contaminant immobilization/phytostabilization combining soil amendments and vegetative cover

Publication date: 12-12-2025
Extent: 38 pages

Contributions by: Paula Alvarenga , Luísa Louro Martins and Miguel Mourato, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Chapter synopsis:

Remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and metalloids should give priority to risk minimisation by reduction of their bioavailable fraction that poses actual risk. This may be achieved in certain situations, and within a reasonable timespan, using immobilisation/phytostabilization strategies, i.e., locking contaminants in the root zone, using plants, soils amendments, and rhizosphere microorganisms, lowering their bioavailability. The choice of proper soil amendments, eventually waste-derived organic and inorganic materials, is of pivotal importance to immobilize the contaminants. Non-edible crops may be used, with means for their biomass valorisation, and the selection of soil-quality indicators, to evaluate environmental risk reduction and the increase in soil health, are very important in this strategy. The objective of this chapter is to describe the importance of immobilisation/phytostabilisation and recent advances that may contribute to its use, not only in mining and industrial soils, but also in agricultural and peri-urban soils.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2025.0151.16