The financial feasibility of the phytoremediation technology: Assessment of remediation by sideritis galatica, poplar and willow

Abstract

Phytoremediation is a process which uses several plants to remove the pollutants from water and soil to reduce, completely extract, control or immobilize them. The plants used for this reason are referred to as the hyperaccumulators. Metal accumulation can occur in several different families from small annual grass to perennial bushes and trees. For remediation or cleaning of the soils polluted with heavy metals, the ideal plant species are the ones which can produce high amounts of biomass and can accumulate and tolerate the pollutants. In this research, Cd and Zn metals which occurred because of industrial wastes are observed in the roots of Phragmites Australis, Cyperace carex, Sideritis galatica and Compositae cardueae plants in Kucukcekmece region. Among these, Sideritis galatica was found to be the most beneficial plant for remediation. Furthermore, it was observed that the Kucukcekmece region is also suitable for growth of willow and poplar trees. This study includes a financial feasibility analysis that determines the monetary benefit of phytoremediation as well as the environmental advantages. The financial outputs are compared by the net present value model and internal rate of return approaches. © 2008 DEStech Publications, Inc.