We use plants and special microorganisms to remove pollutants from soils.
We identify combinations of plants and microorganisms to clean soils of heavy metals and hydrocarbons. Thanks to the development of phytoremediation research, we bring polluted soils back to life through plants.
Heavy metals, organic and chlorinated compounds are pollutants that may be left behind in the soil as residues of industrial activities of the past. Reclaiming a site using traditional methods is not always the most sustainable solution both environmentally and in terms of CO2 emissions. Methods such as phytoremediation offer a lower-impact alternative.
Industrialisation
A large network of academic excellence and research centres
Phytoremediation is a natural remediation technique for contaminated soils that exploits the ability of certain plants to capture pollutants such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons degrading them. It can be used on brownfield sites and has several advantages: it does not cause any leaks of harmful substances, it does not produce CO2 emissions and it does not cause a nuisance to the environment or people. At the Eni Research Centre in San Donato Milanese, in collaboration with a large network of academic excellence and research centres, we study these methods to enhance the development and extraction capacity of plants and reduce the time required for each reclamation. Through Eni Rewind, phytoremediation is already normally used in environmental reclamation.
The polluted land is analysed and native plants are identified that have been shown to be able to survive on that land. These plant species are planted all over the area to be treated and their growth is stimulated with soil conditioners (a combination of nutrients and bacteria). These plants absorb substances from the soil through their roots. More specifically, they can capture excess heavy metals, bringing their concentration back within the legal limits. Not only that, thanks to microorganisms living in symbiosis with the root system, plants can degrade hydrocarbons dispersed in the soil, reusing them in their own biological cycles to obtain energy. In the first case we are talking about phytoextraction, in the second about phytodegradation. When the action of the plants is supported by particular growth-promoting bacteria, we enter the field of assisted phytoremediation, and this is exactly where we focus our research. These beneficial bacteria are then cultivated and inoculated into the soil together with the most suitable plant species, which enhances the phytoremediation action overall.
By studying contaminated soils, we have identified the most suitable microorganisms to help plants capture and degrade the pollutants present.
increased phytoextraction capacity thanks to Eni and CNR research
phytoextraction capacity per season thanks to research by Eni and CNR
phytoextraction capacity per season on average in the sector
increased phytoextraction capacity thanks to Eni and CNR research
phytoextraction capacity per season thanks to research by Eni and CNR
phytoextraction capacity per season on average in the sector
A process that exploits the natural ability of plants to extract heavy metals and eliminate organic contaminants from the soil. Discover the phytoremediation.
05 October 2023
Eni.com is a digitally designed platform that offers an immediate overview of Eni's activities. It addresses everyone, recounting in a transparent and accessible way the values, commitment and perspectives of a global technology company for the energy transition.
Discover our missionIf you want to change topic, clear the chat and make a new query to receive more relevant results.
This will delete the question history.
If you want to change topic, clear the chat and make a new query to receive more relevant results. This will delete the question history.
Here you can find the full list of your queries.
The answers are generated by artificial intelligence, therefore they may contain inaccuracies. Please read the terms and conditions of use.
EnergIA is an innovative tool based on artificial intelligence capabilities, which can help you navigate the contents of eni.com, quickly finding answers to your questions. EnergIA can also perform a search on a specific topic, providing the most up-to-date data available, or it can invite you to delve deeper into a topic of your interest by suggesting links and specific readings. Start now!
EnergIA is an innovative tool based on artificial intelligence capabilities, which can help you navigate the contents of eni.com, quickly finding answers to your questions. Start now!
EnergIA (ener'dʒia) is a system based on Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Thanks to this technology, we can respond to your requests by querying the most relevant content and documents available on eni.com. (Note: financial documents from the last 12 months and press releases from the last 2 years are considered.)
Through EnergIA, you can delve into topics of interest and have a real-time window into the world of Eni.
If you wish to search for a specific document, press release or news, use the traditional search engine via the magnifying glass icon.
Like all systems that leverage Generative Artificial Intelligence, EnergIA may generate inaccurate or outdated responses. Always consult the sources that EnergIA proposes as the origin of the generated information.
If the system fails to find an exact match for the requested content, it still tends to provide a response.
If you find any inaccuracies in the provided response, please send us your feedback at the bottom of the page: it will be very helpful for us to improve.
Remember that the content generated by the system does not represent Eni’s official position. We therefore invite stakeholders to refer to their designated contacts for official statements: Press Office for journalists, Investor Relations for analysts and investors, Company Secretariat for shareholders etc..
EnergIA can understand questions posed in almost all languages, but we prefer to provide you with a response in English or Italian, the two languages available on eni.com. If you ask a question in Italian, the content on the site in Italian will be consulted. If you ask it in English or any other language, the content in English will be consulted. (Note: the language Eni uses for financial documents/content is predominantly English.)
If questions are formulated that violate the set security criteria, the system will not proceed with processing the response. Please remember not to send personal data.
By using this service, the users acknowledge that they have read and accepted the terms and conditions of use.
Search
EnergIA (ener'dʒia) is a system based on Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Thanks to this technology, we can respond to your requests by querying the most relevant content and documents available on eni.com. (Note: financial documents from the last 12 months and press releases from the last 2 years are considered.)
Through EnergIA, you can delve into topics of interest and have a real-time window into the world of Eni.
If you wish to search for a specific document, press release or news, use the traditional search engine via the magnifying glass icon.
Like all systems that leverage Generative Artificial Intelligence, EnergIA may generate inaccurate or outdated responses. Always consult the sources that EnergIA proposes as the origin of the generated information.
If the system fails to find an exact match for the requested content, it still tends to provide a response.
If you find any inaccuracies in the provided response, please send us your feedback at the bottom of the page: it will be very helpful for us to improve.
Remember that the content generated by the system does not represent Eni’s official position. We therefore invite stakeholders to refer to their designated contacts for official statements: Press Office for journalists, Investor Relations for analysts and investors, Company Secretariat for shareholders etc..
EnergIA can understand questions posed in almost all languages, but we prefer to provide you with a response in English or Italian, the two languages available on eni.com. If you ask a question in Italian, the content on the site in Italian will be consulted. If you ask it in English or any other language, the content in English will be consulted. (Note: the language Eni uses for financial documents/content is predominantly English.)
If questions are formulated that violate the set security criteria, the system will not proceed with processing the response. Please remember not to send personal data.
By using this service, the users acknowledge that they have read and accepted the terms and conditions of use.
A new window into Eni’s world, at your disposal. EnergIA is an innovative tool based on artificial intelligence capabilities, which can help you navigate the contents of eni.com, quickly finding answers to your questions.