Green Technology as a Way of Cleaning the Environment from Petroleum Substances in South-Eastern Poland

Abstract

Background: In phytoextraction methods, the problem is the obtained contaminated plant biomass, the selection of the appropriate species, resistant to the type and degree of contamination, as well as the long time needed to completely clean the soil.

Goal: when selecting the appropriate method of remediation of soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, not only the effectiveness of the method should be considered, but also the degree of contamination, the location of the site and its current and planned use.

Methods: Descriptive, laboratory and comparative methods were used.

Results: Soil contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can cause mutations and cancer, is of particular concern as it affects not only human health but also vegetation growth and the biological environment. A fast, nature-friendly and cost-effective method is required to remove and minimize the hazardous effects of crude oil.

Conclusions: Green technology is particularly beneficial, especially the phytoextraction technique, in which plants clean the soil of excess petroleum products, prevent its further movement from the site of contamination and prevent erosion of reclaimed soil. Species such as: Trifolium repens, Trifolium pratense, Lotus corniculatus, Agrostis stolonifera, Festuca rubra subsp. trichophylla, Arrhenatherum elatius performed their tasks very well, therefore they can be recommended for use as a factor counteracting environmental degradation.

Keywords: bioremediation; phytoremediation; plants; pollution; soil contaminated with hydrocarbons.