Progress in bioremediation of copper-contaminated soils

Abstract:

With the acceleration of industrialization and agriculture, soil heavy metal pollution has become increasingly serious. Copper, though an essential trace element for the growth and development of living organisms, is one of the main heavy metal pollutants. Excess copper in soil is toxic to plants and threatens human health via food chain. Bioremediation has received extensive attention as a novel technology for heavy-metal-contaminated soils. Here, we review the development of bioremediation technologies, including phytoremediation, microbial remediation, plant-microbe combined remediation, and animal remediation, for copper-contaminated soils, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the effective management of heavy-metal-contaminated soils and the sustainable development of agriculture.

Key words:copper pollution, phytoremediation, microbial remediation, combined remediation