Phytoremediation of Potentially Toxic Elements: Applications, Advantages, Limitations, and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an environmentally sustainable strategy for reducing the mobility, bioavailability, and ecological risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated soils and aquatic environments. This review analyzes the main mechanisms and approaches of phytoremediation, including phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and phytovolatilization, emphasizing their advantages, limitations, and practical applications. This review provides a comparative overview of plant species and their capacity to remove or immobilize contaminants such as cadmium. Particular attention is also given to Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) as a high-biomass C3 bioenergy crop with documented potential for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with Cd, Hg, and multiple metals, as well as for subsequent biomass conversion into biofuels and value-added bioproducts. Additionally, the review discusses the differences between C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways and their influence on plant tolerance to stressful environmental conditions, highlighting how C4 species often exhibit higher stress resistance and remediation potential under drought and high-temperature conditions.