AGROMINING IN BRAZIL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE USE OF PLANTS IN MINING AND SOIL RECOVERY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.030-011Keywords:
Phytomining, Phytoextraction, Hyperaccumulator plants, Metallophytes, Bio-ore, Metal accumulation in plantsAbstract
Agromining or phytomining is an emerging technology that employs hyperaccumulator plants to extract and concentrate metals present in the soil, simultaneously enabling environmental recovery and the generation of metalliferous biomass with potential economic value. This study presents a systematic quantitative mapping of Brazilian scientific production on the subject, encompassing articles published between 2012 and 2025. Fourteen studies were identified that investigate natural soils and anthropogenically contaminated areas, with emphasis on ultramafic, mafic-ultramafic, and ferruginous environments, where a greater diversity of metallophytic species is observed. The results indicate significant advances in the identification of hyperaccumulator species of nickel (Ni), rare earth elements (REEs), zinc (Zn), and aluminum (Al), in addition to the wide occurrence of accumulator and phytostabilizing species. A marked increase in research was also observed from 2021 onwards, especially those focused on phytomining and bio-ore production. However, gaps remain regarding species productivity, the scaling of field operations, and the economic viability of the technique. It is concluded that agromining represents a sustainable strategy for metal extraction and recovery, capable of integrating metal production and ecological restoration. Its consolidation, however, depends on the joint advancement of ecological, physiological, and technological development studies.
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