Removal of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Soil Using Phytoremediation

Industrial waste is one of the most important sources of contamination in the surface environment. The impact of heavy metals in soils, plants, animals and humans is due to the unabated expansion of toxic effects. Human activities all over the earth have increased environmental pollution by heavy metals in agricultural soil. Pollution of the biosphere with toxic metals has to accelerate dramatically since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Phytoremediation uses plants to remove pollutants from the environment. The use of metal accumulating plants clean- up soil and water contaminated with toxic metals. It is the most rapidly developing component of this environmentally friendly and cost- effective technology. The leather tanning effluent soil was collected and analyzed. The results also showed that the isolated Eclipta alba has the capacity to remove heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb & Zn) in the effluent soil. The metal removing capacity increased with increase in concentration of the metals