Phytoremediation: A Clean and Green Approach for Heavy Metal Remediation

The buildup of heavy metals in soil has intensified the outcome of a variety of human (industrial) activities and geological cycles. Heavy metals cannot biodegrade, therefore, they remain in the surroundings, represent a danger of infiltrating the supply chain of food via agricultural plants, and may eventually accumulate within individuals due to biomagnification. Heavy metals are harmful to humans, plants, and ecosystems because they are toxic. Heavy metal ions that are still present in the soil may be accumulated by plant tissues, the biosphere, and by the various tropical levels present in the food chain. For the biosorption of metal-contaminated soil, several biological, chemical, and physical remediation approaches (both in situ and ex situ) are acknowledged. The importance of removing soil pollution cannot be emphasized. Phytoremediation allows for the environmentally beneficial replanting of soil which is contaminated with heavy metals. Increasing the efficacy of remediation with the help of plants necessitates a better knowledge of the processes behind the accumulation of heavy metals and tolerance in plants. In this review, we explain the heavy metal absorption, detoxification, and translocation, mechanisms in plants. We focus on techniques that employ microbial assistance, genetic engineering, and chelate assistance to boost the efficacy of photo extraction and phytostabilization. The limitations of effective phytoremediation and potential solutions are also covered in this research.