Phytomining and Its Role in Improving Soil Quality and Recovering Some Critical Raw Materials

This paper delves into the process of phytomining, with a particular emphasis on the recovery of heavy metals, notably nickel. It explores the role of various participants in the phytomining process and the factors that influence it. The paper underscores the economic significance of phytomining as a technology for the recovery of critical metals, presenting several case studies on the recovery of these metals, including noble metals, rare earth elements, nickel, zinc, and cadmium. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the environmental and economic impacts of the phytomining process, specifically for nickel, through a life cycle analysis. The paper concludes by identifying the advantages and limitations of phytomining.