Discussion on phytoremediation using energy plants for heavy metals contaminated soil

Heavy metals contamination of soil is a serious problem in China. Phytoremediation is one of the promising methods, in which the energy plants have barely aroused concern yet. While the energy plants have already presented remarkable advantages, such as growing fast, high biomass, strong resistance to bad conditions and tough tolerance of barren soil, it has revealed a great potential for them in phytoremediation in the future. In this paper, the situation of heavy metals pollution in China and the phytoremediation were introduced roughly at first. Definition and categorization of energy plants and their phytoremediation potential were presented. Then the phytoremediation methods using energy plants including phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and soil fixation and erosion prevention were discussed. Finally, several prospects of the phytoremediation using energy plants were drawn.