Plants for environment clean-up: strategies for the remediation of metal polluted soils (phytoextraction, phytomining, phytostabilisation, phytovolatilisation, revegetation) and if organic polluted soils (phytotransformation, phytodegradation, plant-mycroorganism systems). Rhyzofiltration: constructed wetlands.
Knolewdge acquired:
physiological characteristics of plants suitable for environment recovery, analysis of polluted matrices and remediation strategies.
Competence acquired
Qualification aimed to the knowledge of the polluted soil remediation techniques using higher plants.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
understanding the environment conditions and assessing the best strategy for environment remediation.
skill of analyzing and characterizing the environmental conditions in order to asses the best possible action for remediation of contaminated sites. Knowledge of the physiological prerogatives of plant species to estimate, in relation to environmental conditions, the most appropriate species for phytoremediation
Prerequisites
NO
Further information
Office hours:
To be fixed directly with the students.
Type of Assessment
Final oral examination
Course program
Bioremediation: advantages and limitations in respect to the classic remediation techniques. Main causes of toxicity and natural and anthropic environmental stresses: salinity, organic substances, heavy metals, radioactivity. Survey of parameters for assessing the environmental impact: chemical analysis and use of biomarkers. Municipal waste landfills, and mining. Some legal issues on waste storage. Use of plants as landfill capping. Adaptation strategies and mechanisms of plant tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. Uptake and translocation of organic pollutants and metals. Plant metabolism of organic pollutants. Evaluation of tolerance to pollutants. Plants for environment clean-up: physiological characteristics of the species suitable for remediation techniques. Wild species and crop plants tolerant to stress, endemism to environments toxic for natural causes. Strategies for the remediation of metal polluted soils (phytoextraction, phytomining, phytostabilisation, phytovolatilisation, revegetation) and of organic polluted soils (phytotransformation, phytodegradation, plant-mycroorganism systems). Rhyzofiltration: constructed wetlands. The problem of high salinity environments. Tolerant plants and salt accumulation. The restoration and revegetation of saline environments. The cultivation of agricultural tolerant plants. Bioremediation practical aspects and planning of environmental actions. Green plants as a source of renewable energy (biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel oil, etc.). Case studies.