Integrated Vetiver Technique for Remediation of Heavy Metal Contamination: Potential and Practice

Metalliferous mining activities produce a large quantity of waste materials (such as tailings), which frequently contain excessive concentrations of heavy metals. These mining activities and waste materials have created heavy metal pollution problems through wind and water erosion. An integrated vetiver technique (IVT) for remediation of heavy metal contamination raised from mining activities is suggested in this paper. The remediation technique includes three aspects: phytostablization of mining wastes to reduce wind and water erosion, phytofiltration of heavy metals in wastewater with utilization of constructed wetlands, and phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils. Vetiver grass, due to its unique characteristics, such as higher biomass, fast growth, strong root system and higher metal tolerance etc., can play an important role in these aspects. Progress in the three aspects has been summarized based on our series of research (five experiments). The limits and further necessary research of these techniques is also discussed.