Phytoremediation has a strong potential as a natural, solar-energy driven remediation approach for the treatment of sites, groundwater and wastewater contaminated with various chemicals. The basic mechanism of phytoremediation is the use of green plants natural abilities to remove, contain, inactivate, or degrade constituents of contaminated media. It is inexpensive, effective and green. A special advantage of phytoremediation compared to other treatment methods is that soil functioning is maintained and life in soils is reactivated. In this paper, heavy emphasis is placed on the discussion of relevant processes and existing uncertainties in phytoremediation. This article also intends to give an overview of current development, and an insight into methods and application. A number of external and internal factors are involved in the field application and its basic mechanisms are still under development, so the reality of phytoremediation as an in-situ technique is very different to evaluate. In conclusion, full understanding of phytoremediation would require a more comprehensive study than as it was done in this report.
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