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Review Essays of Academic, Professional & Technical Books in the Humanities & Sciences
Phytoremediation: Transformation and Control of Contaminants by Steven C.
McCutcheon, Jerald L. Schnoor (Wiley-Interscience) A peerless survey of the
emerging field of phytoremediation.
Steven McCutcheon and Jerald Schnoor’s insightful book defines the current state
of the science of phytoremediation and points the way to further possible
applications. Site managers and engineers will receive guidance in selecting
plants to clean up contaminated sites cost effectively, while plant ecologists
and biochemists will appreciate the nuts and bolts analysis of how
phytoremediation works, and suggestions of directions for research. The editors
divide their one-of-a-kind text into seven clearly defined sections for easy
reference:
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Overview of Science and Applications
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Fundamentals of Phytotransformation and Control of Contaminants
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Science and Practice for Aromatic, Phenolic, and Hydrocarbon Contaminants
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Transformation and Control of Explosives
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Fate and Control of Chlorinated Solvents and Other Halogenated Compounds
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Modeling, Design, and Field-Pilot Testing
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Latest Advances
Environmental, remediation, and site engineers; site managers; plant and soil
scientists; ecologists; and environmental toxicologists, chemists, and
microbiologists will find Phytoremediation: Transformation and Control of
Contaminants to be an invaluable addition to their professional libraries.
Phytoremediation
covers phytotransformation, phytodegradation, rhizosphere degradation, and
phytocontainment of xenobiotic organic pollutants and select inorganic compounds
that plant enzymatic processes transform or mineralize. Consistent with this
coverage, the term phytoremediation is defined to encompass the use of green
plants, fungi, algae, bacteria, and microbial mats when one of three vital plant
processes is involved in waste management. These processes include (1)
photoautotrophic conversion of sunlight to useful energy and use of atmospheric
carbon dioxide to synthesize new biomass, thus fueling plant and rhizosphere
microbial control and metabolism of contaminants; (2) green-liver metabolism
involving transformation, conjugation, and sequestration of contaminants and the
resulting by-products (e.g., plant and fungal glycosylation and lignification);
and (3) plant transpiration to control the movement of contaminants in water,
soil, and air. Other recent books (cited in Chapter 1 of this book) cover
phytoextraction of toxic metals, phytovolatilization of selenium, and
phytostabilization of metals and organics. Where necessary for complete
coverage of phytoremediation terminology and fundamentals, a few overlaps occur
to maintain consistency. In one case, McIntyre (Chapter 30 of this book)
introduces two new plant databases-one for rhizodegradation of petroleum
hydrocarbons, and one for metals accumulation. In the other case, Rock (Chapter
31 of this book) reviews several field evaluations of phytoremediation; include
some disappointing field results for phytoextraction of lead.
To broadly
cover the latest advances from fundamental investigation to field testing of
concepts, seven sections are the basis of organization for this book
Phytoremediation. Each section starts with fundamental contributions that
define the state-of-the-science and ends with chapters on the applications of
fundamental and heuristic concepts in practical settings. The first three
chapters overview the state of the science and practice, including review of
technical, economic, social, and regulatory issues in translating the research
to date into practical cleanup applications. Burken (Chapter 2 of
Phytoremediation) covers the vital green-liver concept of Heinrich
Sandermann, Jr. for plant metabolism. Section II covers fundamental and
important advances involving enzymatic metabolic processes, proteomic and
genomic bases of plant tolerance, phytotoxicity of selected xenobiotic
chemicals, and fundamental physiological processes that include rooting and
root ecology, and evapotranspiration. Sections III, IV, and V cover the spectrum
of fundamental investigation to field testing for aromatic and hydrocarbon
contaminants, explosives, and chlorinated solvents, respectively. Section VI
covers the latest modeling, design, and field application advances, starting
with the latest in phytohydraulic control and modeling that establish the
state-of-the-practice, then concentrates on applied management techniques for
wastewaters, leachates, and brines. Section VII presents the latest advances in
genetic engineering and screening of plants that may be useful in managing
atmospheric nitrous oxides and halocarbon pollution, use of plants to control
methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), phytodegradation of cyanide in soil, and
rhizodegradation and phytodegradation of dissolved perchlorate. The final two
chapters of this section, and of the book, introduce the first plant databases'
and review current field evaluations of important types of phytoremediation. The
heuristic plant-based practices of land farming (including sewage spraying),
constructing treatment wetlands, and developing riparian buffers that predate
coining the term phytoremediation in 1991 are covered to unify, recent
chemical-specific treatment approaches with the ecological engineering of
wetlands, buffers, or tree, grass, and cultivar plantings. The appropriate
practices are introduced and evaluated in the scientific context of specific,
pathways, transformation products, kinetics, and efficiency in achieving,
cleanup standards or acceptable residual risks. The exceptions involve a few'
cases where field experience with trees, grasses, and other vegetation establish
some beneficial effects, but the scientific basis has not yet been fully
explored.
This book
is intended to be a definitive reference for leaders in the research and
practice of phytoremediation as well as those students entering the field.
Practicing engineers, ecologists, foresters, agronomists, and extension agents;
waste site managers; and regulatory experts will find this book to be a
definitive reference on the phytoremediation that is possible, feasible, and
proven for organic and some inorganic pollutants in water, soil, and air. Each
chapter has a summary of practical implications. Where necessary to define
fundamental principles for broad audiences, a glossary and definitions in the
text are judiciously applied. Systeme International (SI) units are used (along
with English common in most practical chapters) and care taken to avoid
confusion over decimal points and numerical expression. (The U.S. practice of
using a period as the decimal point and avoiding the use of the comma in favor
of a space in denoting thousands is used for numbers greater than 9999, e.g.,
99800.) Attention has also been paid to the consistent use of significant digits
and scientific nomenclature in each chapter to facilitate practical
applications of the knowledge worldwide.
The
coverage of existing and new practices includes wetland construction, land
farming, tree and crop plantation, riparian buffer management, and
biotechnology-based waste treatment unit processes to treat most of the major
organic xenobiotic contaminants (e.g., phenols, hydrocarbons, surfactants,
pesticides, explosives, and chlorinated solvents) and a few inorganic
contaminants that plants mineralize or volatilize. The underlying theme is the
use of in situ, sustainable, and renewable biotechnology to protect humans and
the environment, but heuristic, short-term, energy-intensive methods are
described and evaluated when necessary for complete waste management coverage
of this innovative, evolving field. In some cases, design guidance can be
distilled from
Phytoremediation.
Experts and
students in allied fields will also find this book to be the definitive
introduction to the science and practice of phytoremediation. Some of the allied
fields include plant, fungal, and bacterial biochemistry, genetics, and
proteomics; enzymology and metabolic engineering; biotechnology; ecology and
ecological engineering; wetland ecology and hydrobiology; plant biology and
other life sciences; plant, crop, and soil sciences and agronomy; forestry and
silviculture; botany, plant physiology, and root ecology; plant toxicology;
environmental chemistry and science; environmental, biological, bioresource,
irrigation, agricultural, chemical, and civil engineering; microbiology and
bioremediation; hazardous waste management; groundwater hydrology and
hydrogeology; biometeorology; water resource management; alternative biofuel
production; biogeochemistry, global change modeling, and risk assessment
involving plants as sinks and sources; indoor and outdoor air pollution control;
landscaping; land use planning and management; and environmental and ecological
economics and management.
Graduate
and undergraduate students interested in phytoremediation should find this book
to be an indispensable reference to practical case studies as well as
definitive process research on why phytoremediation works and where current gaps
in knowledge exist that can be filled by enterprising thesis and dissertation
research over the next decade or longer. Course instructors and curricula
planners in the evolving phytoremediation and ecological engineering programs
of study will find this book an adequate text to provide fundamental background
and case studies until texts are tailored to this purpose. Assignments should
be easily derived from the practical elements and practical implications
summarized in each chapter. For course organization and planning, the sections
group together all the work on major contaminant problems such as aromatic and
hydrocarbon contaminants, explosives, and chlorinated solvents following the
overview and the basics of phytoremediation-green-liver metabolism, tissue
culturing and enzymology, proteomics and useful plant biochemistry approaches,
basis of plant tolerance, root ecology and control, and evapotranspiration. The
latest advances available for study include new approaches to treating air
pollutants, MTBE, and per chlorate in groundwater and wastewater, and cyanide in
soil, especially from the numerous abandoned town gas sites that was the source
for street and home lighting in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries. Hopefully, an instructors' guide with assignments and engineering
design will folio soon.
The
extensive involvement of many research groups was also intended to exceptional.
The authors of the various chapters represent almost all of th leading teams
developing phytoremediation of organic contaminants. In som' cases, authorship
is shared among some of the most productive teams fo focused, concise coverage
of important topics. Other chapters were specifi` ally directed to full coverage
of all known work of importance, especially to involve younger collaborators and
future leaders in the field. Despite th outreach involved, a few have surged
into prominence in this dynamic feel, since the writing began 2 years ago. The
Editorial Review Board was ther:` fore set up to engage some emerging leaders
during the process, some wh were constrained by time, but mostly those with
review skills and foresigh into the coverage necessary.
A
remarkable trait of almost all of the research and development tea engaged in
phytoremediation became evident early on, as authors wer selected. Almost all
U.S. teams have dual leadership from a science disciplin. and from engineering.
European research and development is a bit different where the strength and
leadership in the field comes from the marvelou organization and coordination of
the COST 837 project led by Jean-Pa Schwitzguebel of the Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology in Lausanne Switzerland, and Tomas Vanek of the Czech Academy of
Sciences in Prague. Despite the inadequate funding for research and development
noted in Mar miroli and McCutcheon (Chapter 3 of
Phytoremediation), the outlook for phytoreme diation based on these
productive teams and organizations is very good. Government and industry leaders
and the public should look forward to the development of additional cost-saving
methods that effectively manage widespread, moderately toxic contamination and
some more toxic hot spots using sustainable, natural processes that can be
easily engineered for the benefit of humankind and the ecosystem of this planet.
To ensure
the best quality coverage, all chapters including McCutcheon and Schnoor
(Chapter 1 of
Phytoremediation) were independently peer reviewed and accepted for the book
by one of the editors not associated with the authors. In the case of McCutcheon
and Schnoor, a senior member of the Editorial Review Board, Alan Baker, was
empowered as ± acting editor to assess the independent reviews and determine if
the chapter was sufficient. The reviews started with outlines of each chapter to
ensure coverage and coordination. Because of these reviews by the Editorial
Review Board and authors of other chapters, some gaps in coverage were filled
with a second round of invited contributions. Board members and the editors also
highlighted the fast-developing work and the important topics. Once the chapters
were completed, three to seven reviews were undertaken. One editor, one member
of the Editorial Review Board, and one of the better-known experts in the area
(if this did not involve the editor or Board member) reviewed each chapter.
Authors of other chapters commented on overlaps in coverage, but also provided
outstanding technical criticism. Most of the reviews were focused on chapters
that defined a consensus on the state-of-the-practice that hopefully will lead
to several design guidance documents after this book is published. All revisions
were further evaluated editorially. Despite the rigor in review, only one
chapter was declined.
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