Environmentally Sound Combustion of Ligneous Plants Grown in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

The heavy metal contamination of soils and groundwaters is a typical category of toxic pollution deriving from large-scale industrial operations. Excessive metal concentrations commonly occur around abandoned mines and metal processing plants. Several cleanup technologies are known for the removal of pollutants from soil and groundwater systems including surface and subsurface waters. Phytoremediation is a biological treatment method based on the accumulative potential of plants to extract heavy metal contaminants from the ground. The produced biomass should be considered as hazardous waste and treated with special care.