MSc in Ecological Engineering - Phytoremediation and Bioremediation in Syracuse United States | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Phytoremediation refers to various techniques that employ plants, fungi, and bacteria to clean up or contain polluted areas. These biological systems work through multiple mechanisms including contaminant absorption, breakdown, immobilization, filtration, and neutralization. Fast-growing trees like poplars and willows help establish conditions that enhance water evaporation, limiting pollutant seepage into affected soils. This approach also fosters better soil conditions that support natural degradation. Our research focuses on cultivating fast-growing tree varieties on abandoned industrial lands across New York. A multi-year initiative has specifically targeted using plant-based water management to block contaminant flow toward Onondaga Lake near Syracuse. Additionally, we partner with wetland experts to evaluate how former waste areas can be repurposed for salt marsh rehabilitation in central New York.