Nanoparticles-assisted phytoremediation: Advances and applications

Organic and inorganic pollution of soil and water has attracted much attention in recent times. These pollutants may find their way into the food chain and could lead to adverse health implications in humans. The conventional methods of pollutant removal are expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, an eco-friendly and inexpensive approach such as phytoremediation is required. However, the use of phytoremediation alone as a management strategy has some limitations. Nanomaterial-mediated phytoremediation is therefore recommended as a more reliable method of removal of contaminants from the environment. Some nanoparticles enhance hyperaccumulator biomass production and scavenge pollutants through augmenting antioxidant activities. This chapter gives insight into the mechanisms used by plants in phytoremediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants and interactions of nanoparticles within the plants and the environment. Recent advances and applications of nanoparticles in phytoremediation, as well as future prospects to harness the benefits derived from nanoparticle-mediated phytoremediation, were discussed.