This list is not necessarily complete.  Recommendations for additions to the list of research sponsors are welcome. Logos are included where logos can be found that fit in with the text.

The Bioengineering Group, Inc. Salem, Massachusetts

Review article:  Phytoremediation Potential for Lead-Contaminated River Sediments, by Wendi Goldsmith, Senior Bioengineer.
"Recent developments in the application of wetlands for wastewater treatment and of phytoremediation for heavy metal uptake from upland soils suggest the feasibility of managed wetland plantings for uptake and removal of heavy metals from contaminated sediments. ... Engineered wetlands for removal of lead from riverine sediments appear to offer a theoretically sound approach provided that vegetation is regularly removed."

CH2M HILL

Poplar Treatment Systems

"Since 1989, CH2M HILL has pioneered the permitting, design, research, installation, management, and monitoring of poplar tree treatment and remediation projects. Demand for services related to this innovative technology has been high. In just 7 years, CH2M HILL has implemented 30 successful poplar tree projects, three of which were award winners. CH2M HILL has received positive recognition by regulators and major associations and has earned a reputation as the leader in the field."

"To be effective, phytoremediation projects must successfully integrate both the plant-based and engineering aspects of a system; this requires an interdisciplinary approach. CH2M HILL brings together the right team of agricultural and environmental engineers, plant and soil scientists (agronomy and soil physics, chemistry, management, and classification), hydrogeologists, and others with the skills to address each remediation project's specific problems. It is CH2M HILL's combined expertise and the ability to seamlessly integrate the technical disciplines that makes it unique among firms who use phytoremediation technologies."
 

Ecolotree, Inc., Iowa City, Iowa. "Ecolotree, Inc. uses plants to clean up and contain problem chemicals that can  harm humans and the environment." "The plants, primarily hybrid poplar trees and grasses, can provide effective and economical solutions to environmental problem." There are currently 60 Ecolotree-installed sites across the United States and one in Slovenia. These sites range from Oregon to New Hampshire, from upper Michigan to Florida.

Edenspace Systems Corporation,  Reston, VA

"Edenspace today is the world leader in the use of proprietary techniques to remove minerals from water and the ground using special plant cultivars and amendments.   This approach, called phytoextraction, offers substantially lower costs than alternative methods, as well as important environmental and aesthetic benefits."

"Current contracts call for removing lead and depleted uranium from firing ranges and industrial sites; extracting trace metals from water at a utility; and reclaiming tungsten from abandoned mines.  With a partner, Edenspace is developing ways of reaching deeper into the earth with elecrokinetic techniques.  Recently, the firm  announced new commercial and retail applications for its patented hyperaccumulation technology."

Edenspace Systems acquired the phytoremediation business of Phytotech, Inc. in mid-1999.

EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute Palo Alto, CA

Phytoremediation of Contaminated Sites

Benefits: An opportunity to help determine the extent to which selected plants can help remediate contaminated sites or halt off-site transport of chemicals of concern.

ERIN Consulting Ltd.,  Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

• Phytoremediation for Contaminated Sites:

"Experience in bioremediation:  Excellent potential to co-ordinate with phytoremediation   Comprehensive design and implementation experience.

General contracting and monitoring:  Biological expertise carried through complete project to ensure successful treatment."

Living Technologies, Dharma Living Systems (DLSI)  , Taos, New Mexico.

• "Living Technologies was formed to provide a natural systems approach to wastewater treatment for a variety of clients worldwide.  Using the principles of ecological design and engineering, we design, install and operate revolutionary treatment facilities known as Living Machines^®.  We offer treatment systems to a variety of clients: municipalities and communities; educational institutions and museums; resort and other developers; and industry and manufacturing. Wherever wastewater needs to be treated, we can help."

"Air Quality Solutions Naturaire® Systems harness the cleansing power of nature to remove common pollutants from indoor air.  Naturaire® Systems, tested at the University of Guelph, remove up to 90 percent of common pollutants, significantly improving indoor air quality in an environmentally sustainable manner."

• Phytoremediation of Toxic Wastes.   Occidental Petroleum is cooperating in a study of the metabolism of trichloroethanol by hybrid poplar trees with Prof. Milton Gordon at the University of Washington.  "Poplars are able to grow in the presence of high levels of TCE and to transpire and metabolize the compound. TCE is converted to trichloroethanol, trichloroacetic acid, and two polar compounds whose structures are being determined."

Revegetation of petroleum-contaminated soils in Peru.  "Pit-bottom soils contaminated with petroleum have been cleaned to meet U.S. environmental standards in six months using standard farming practices. Test plots are being evaluated to determine long-term revegetation rates; meanwhile, 12-inch tree seedlings grew to seven feet in less than two years.    A plant nursery for native species has been created at Andoas and is now  producing 15,000 plants. These plants are being evaluated for use in major revegetation and remediation projects throughout Block 1-AB as the environmental  program proceeds."

Assessment of Phytoremediation as an In-Situ Technique for Cleaning Oil-Contaminated Sites - A Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
"Phytoremediation, the use of plants and their associated microorganisms for the in situ treatment of contaminated soils, is a steadily emerging technology with potential for the effective and inexpensive cleanup of a broad range of organic and inorganic wastes. Based on a review of the relevant literature, we provide examples of the phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons and discuss the key mechanisms as well as the special considerations involved in petrochemical phytoremediation. The benefits, limitations, and costs of phytoremediation compared to alternative approaches – including natural attenuation, engineering and  bioremediation – also are discussed.  Initial indications are that phytoremediation is effective at degrading and containing petroleum hydrocarbons in soil as well as transferring these compounds from soil to the atmosphere.  The literature suggests that the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by microorganisms in the rhizosphere of plants is the primary loss mechanism for these compounds. Based on available information, it appears that phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons is quicker but more expensive than natural attenuation and, conversely, slower but less expensive than most engineering techniques and traditional bioremediation methods.  Preliminary screenings indicate that there are native and introduced plants that could be used in phytoremediation efforts in the Prairie and Boreal Plains Ecozones. Little published information exists, however, on the application of phytoremediation to oil-contaminated sites in Canada. Likewise, only a handful of studies examine in detail the specific mechanisms of petrochemical phytoremediation." [ link to on-line report ]   [ Further information ]

Phytokinetics, Inc., North Logan, UT "One of Phytokinetics' unique strengths is our ability to perform highly site-specific treatability studies. Many clients want to know if phytoremediation will work for particular sites, with unique soils, mixtures of contaminants, and specific climatic conditions.  Standardized treatment approaches are simply not effective."

TreeTec Environmental Corp., Boston, MA TreeTec Environmental Corp. (TreeTec) offers expert customized solutions to your environmental problems. We use the largest plant in the world to accomplish this task – TREES. Since all trees have limitations, proper tree selection is a fundamental requirement to a successful phytoremediation project. When the right tree is selected it will grow well and it will perform its designated task well.  TreeTec has found the Salicaceae family of trees, including willows (Salix), poplars or cottonwoods and aspens (Populus), excellent trees to use in phytoremediation projects.

Wolverton Environmental Services, Inc. (WES, Inc.), Picayune, MS

• Practical application of phytoremediation to environmental problems.  "Originally developed by Dr. Wolverton for NASA, these natural processes have far more value in pollution control on earth than application in future manned habitats in outer space."

• "WES, Inc. provides expertise in design and consultation of phytoremediation

processes and techniques."

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