RESEARCH ON THE PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS FROM MINING ACTIVITY: CASE STUDY BALOMIR-URICANI TAILINGS DUMP
MĂDĂLINA F. IONIȚĂ(1*), SORIN M. RADU(2), EMILIA C. DUNCA(3)
1. University of Petroșani, Doctoral School, 332006, Petroșani, Romania 2. University of Petroșani, Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, 332006, Petrosani, Romania 3. University of Petroșani, Faculty of Mines, 332006, Petroșani, Romania *Corresponding author: madalina-flaviaionita@upet.ro
Abstract
This study evaluates the ability of various plant species to adapt and grow in heavy metal-contaminated soils, using the Balomir-Uricani tailings dump as a case study. Soil samples were collected from 17 points and analyzed for heavy metal content using atomic absorption spectrometry. In the lab, two phytoremediation methods-phytostabilization and phytoextraction-were tested using three types of plants: hyperaccumulators, phytostabilizers, and phytoextractors. The results highlight the importance of selecting the suitable species for phytoremediation, as those thriving at the Balomir-Uricani site show promise for rehabilitating soils contaminated by mining activities.