Summary: The project offers a new strategy to solve the problem of phytoremediation of explosives, the essence of which is to achieve the maximal degree of neutralization of toxic compounds through creation of the following three-stage system of phytoremediation:
At the first stage (“rhyzosphere biodegradation”), rhyzosphere microorganisms selected specifically for this purpose are introduced into a polluted object (soil, water); microorganisms realize initial transformation of explosives, converting them into comparatively less toxic, more hydrophilic compounds which are much easier assimilated by plants.
At the second stage (“phytoextraction and phytotransformation”), plants with a high phytoremediation potential remove explosives and/or intermediates of their partial transformation from polluted object. At this stage, biostimulators (INAGROSA, Industrias Agrobiologicas, S.A.) will be used to activate metabolic processes and thus to intensify phytoremediation activity of plants.
At the third stage (“bioutilization”), plant residues used in phytoremediation will be treated with microorganisms (basidial fungi) having powerful oxidative enzyme systems that degrade toxic compounds.