Justification of the phytoremediation technology for the coal mine waste heap

Abstract Phytoremediation technologies present the modern ecological strategy for the reclamation of degraded and contaminated lands, which are based on the ability of green plants to clean up soil, water, and air. The methodology of this research is based on comprehensive analysis of best strategies and methods in the field of phytoremediation technologies for mining lands, urban and technogenic territories affected due to contamination by heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic compounds. The paper focuses on the best plant species that evolutionary adapted to restore the polluted environment to its natural condition. The objective of this study is to develop a land reclamation and phytoremediation technology for the waste heap of the coal mine using composite biohumus briquettes. These briquettes are composed of a mixture of natural clay loam, biohumus, agar-agar and seeds of dominant wild herbaceous plant species. The proposed technology of coal waste heaps phytoremediation allows create a primary vegetation cover on the heap surface with further creation of favorable conditions for plants of higher classes that reduces wind and water erosion. Estimated effect of phytoremediation is 265.6 thousand UAH for a designated area of 1700 m 2 in one vegetative season or 156.2 UAH per 1 m 2 .