France researchers test phytoremediation to clean industrial sites

Researchers in the Moselle region of France are conducting experiments using phytoremediation to decontaminate former industrial sites. At the decommissioned blast furnaces in Uckange, scientists are testing the use of specific plant species to clean soil saturated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals.

One primary agent being used is Miscanthus giganteus, also known as elephant grass. According to Sonia Henry, a professor at the University of Lorraine, this plant stimulates soil microorganisms to degrade carbon-based pollutants. This process reduces pollutant levels in the soil without the toxins reaching the plant's aerial parts, allowing the resulting biomass to be repurposed.

For mineral pollutants such as nickel, chromium, zinc, and copper, researchers are testing a second, currently unnamed plant species. The goal of the project is to identify effective combinations of plants that can accelerate the decontamination process and manage multiple types of pollutants simultaneously.