Contaminants Plant species Chlorinated solvents Petroleum compounds (BTEX, low molecular weight PAH’s) Explosives (TNT, RDX) Poplar Willow, grass Marsh plants

The phyto-degradation/ryzo-degradation process is based on the bio-degradation of organic contaminants due to :

• The plant itself, after having absorbed the contaminant (phyto-degradation)
• In proximity of the root apparatus, thanks to enzymes released by the plant or to microorganisms associated with the plant, which find an ideal habitat in proximity of the roots. In this case the process is more correctly defined as “ryzo-degradation”.