Safeguarding Soil with PLANTS: Exploring Phytoremediation for PFAS Cleanup

PLANTS

  • Regional project - Flanders
Research project on phytoremediation financed by Flanders end OVAM and supported by the KIS vzw.

Consortium partners:

Organisatie Land Website
1. University of Hasselt (Dr Sofie Thijs, Nicky Daniels, Dr Marijke Jozefczak, Dr Nele Witters) Belgium link
2. University of Antwerp-Ecosphere (Prof Lieven Bervoets; Dr Thimo Groffen; Frouke Decat) Belgium link
3. University of Antwerp-Centrum voor onderzoek naar Ecologische en Sociale verandering – CRESC (Prof Anne Bergmans; Dries Coertjens) Belgium link

Project objectives:

The objectives of the PLANTS study are as follows:

  1. Investigate PFAS uptake mechanisms by plants: Examine the physiological, morphological, and genetic factors that contribute to differences in PFAS uptake among plant species and cultivars.
  2. Assess soil influence on PFAS: Analyse how soil characteristics (texture, organic matter content, ..) impact PFAS sorption and bioavailability.
  3. Map PFAS distribution in plants: Identify the locations and quantities of PFAS compounds within various plant tissues to develop a comprehensive mass balance. Evaluate also potential evapotranspiration/volatilisation
  4. Assess the influence of soil life (rich vs poor, microorganisms, earthworms) on (partial) transformation of PFAS
  5. Evaluate phytoremediation potential at field scale: Develop and optimise phytoremediation technologies at field scale (agricultural area, Blokkersdijk and private gardens). Operational conditions, for which PFAS compounds and soil conditions is phytoremediation a solution.
  6. Social acceptance, context mapping: stakeholder consultation, development of a roadmap and assessment framework for the future implementation of phytoremediation, co-creation solutions
  7. Investigate downstream processing of plant waste fractions: determine at which level of contamination plant biomass is no longer usable for composting, sorting plant waste fractions, timing of harvest, treatment methods of plant waste fractions (incineration, hydrothermal treatment,..)
  8. Evaluation of the feasibility/implementation of phytoremediation at larger scale: economic feasibility, scalability, multi-criteria decision analyses

Work plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WP1: Controlled experiments investigating phytoremediation efficacy

  • Task 1.1: Definition of the experimental design
  • Task 1.2: Influence of soil type (SOM and clay content) and texture on PFAS uptake
  • Task 1.3: Influence of plant species, cultivars, and physiology on PFAS uptake
  • Task 1.4: Influence of soil life on PFAS extraction, transformation, and compartmentalization

 WP2: PFAS phytoremediation field studies

  • Task 2.1: Phytoremediation field study on Zwijndrecht agricultural soils
  • Task 2.2: Phytomanagement and remediation in the nature reserve Blokkersdijk
  • Task 2.3: Pilot study to investigate phytoremediation in private environments
  • Task 2.4: Influence of external factors on PFAS uptake and fate

WP3: Impact evaluation of phytoremediation

  • Task 3.1: Context mapping and stakeholder consultation
  • Task 3.2: Roadmap and assessment framework for the future implementation of phytoremediation in PFAS polluted sites
  • Task 3.3: Research into downstream processing of plant waste fractions
  • Task 3.4: First evaluation of the feasibility of phytoremediation at larger scale

Test locations:

  • Agricultural land (around 3M Zwijndrecht)
  • Blokkersdijk, Zwijndrecht
  • Private gardens Zwijndrecht
Project information

Status

  • Ongoing

Duration

01/11/2024

-

31/10/2028

Location

  • Belgium

Website

Coordinator

Hasselt University - Centrum voor Milieukunde (CMK)

Dr. Sofie Thijs

Technology(ies) considered in project

  • Phytoremediation

Environmental compartments

  • Soil

Type of activity

  • Technology - Lab trials, Technology - pilot scale, Theoretical evaluation

Concern Type

  • C12-PFDoDA, C14-PFTeDA, C4-PFBA, C4-PFBS, C4-PFBSA (Perfluorobutane sulfonamide), C5-PFPeA, C5-PFPeS, C6-PFHxA, C6-PFHxS, C7-PFHpA, C7-PFHpS, C8-6:2-FTSA, C8-PFOA, C8-PFOS, C9-PFNA, PFAS, PFCA, PFSA
Funding source(s)
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