Landis and her team were able to use other forms of nonhazardous industrial waste materials to neutralize the acidity of soil at polluted sites, particularly abandoned mining lands. The method restored fertility to a level that allowed many of the plants, from which biofuels are derived, to grow.

As a result, biofuels agriculture could become a significant contributor to soil remediation, land reclamation and natural storm water management that fertile, absorbent ground can provide.

Credit: Jessica Hochreiter/Arizona State University

Arizona State University associate professor of engineering Amy Landis (right) led research to study the feasibility of restoring soils degraded by industrial wastes and other pollutants to growing bioenergy crops. In additional research, she examined the potential environmental benefits and drawbacks of expanding biofuel production.

Credit: Jessica Hochreiter/Arizona State University

Arizona State University associate professor of engineering Amy Landis (center) directed experiments on cultivating various kinds of bioenergy crops. It was part of her work to assess the potential environmental impacts of large-scale agriculture to produce biofuels.

Credit: Jessica Hochreiter/Arizona State University