Immobilization of the heavy metals Cd, Cu and Pb in an acid soil amended with gypsum- and lime-rich industrial by-products

In situ stabilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils by the addition of various types of soil amendment is an attractive technique for remediation. We investigated the potential of three industrial by‐products (phosphogypsum, red gypsum and dolomitic residue) for boosting the heavy metal sorption capacity of an acid soil (patents pending, Spanish applications no 200201704 and 200201375) by using sorption isotherm experiments. The three by‐products were found substantially to increase the retention of lead, cadmium and copper on the solid components of the soil. The increase in lead retention of the soil horizons upon the addition of both phosphogypsum and red gypsum was dominated by the formation of anglesite minerals. The dolomitic residue increased the metal retention capacity of the soil horizons through the precipitation of laurionite‐type minerals as well as cadmium and copper hydroxy‐chlorides. In addition to the batch sorption study, we used scanning electron microscopy to investigate the metal sorption processes in the soil by the effect of the treatments. Lead was frequently found to be linked to the edge charges of kaolinite minerals. The three metals were found to be associated with organic matter in the Ap horizon treated with the three by‐products. Finally, the three metals were found to be associated with undissolved dolomitic residue particles.     

Immobilization of Cu and Cd in a contaminated soil: one- and four-year field effects

Purpose

Many amendments have been applied to immobilize heavy metals in soil. However, little information is available on the changes of immobilization efficiencies of heavy metals in contaminated soils over time. This work investigated the immobilization efficiencies of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) in contaminated soils in situ remediated with one-time application of three amendments for 1 year and 4 years.

Materials and methods

Apatite, lime, and charcoal were mixed with the topsoil of each plot with the amounts of 22.3, 4.45, and 66.8 t/ha, respectively. Soil chemical properties and fractions of Cu and Cd were examined after in situ remediation for 1 year and 4 years. Soil sorption and retention capacities and desorption proportions for Cu and Cd were investigated by batch experiments.

Results and discussion

The addition of amendments significantly increased soil pH, but decreased exchange acid and aluminum (Al). The amendments significantly decreased the CaCl₂ extractable Cu and Cd and transformed them from active to inactive fractions. After the application of amendments for 1 year, the maximum sorption capacities ranged from 35.6 to 38.8 mmol/kg for Cu and from 14.4 to 17.0 mmol/kg for Cd, which were markedly higher than those of the application of amendments for 4 years (Cu, 29.6–34.7 mmol/kg; Cd, 10.9–16.4 mmol/kg). Desorption proportions (D) of Cu and Cd using three extractants followed the order of \( {D}_{{\mathrm{NaNO}}_3}<{D}_{{\mathrm{CaCI}}_2}<{D}_{{\mathrm{MgCI}}_2} \) . Moreover, the retention capacities (R) of Cu and Cd both increased and followed the order of R _apatite?>?R _lime?>?R _charcoal, resulting in higher Cu and Cd in the amended soils than the untreated soil.

Conclusions

Apatite, lime, and charcoal increased the soil sorption and retention capacities of Cu and Cd and resulted in higher immobilization efficiencies in the amended soils than the untreated soil. However, the immobilization efficiencies of Cu and Cd decreased with the decrease of sorption capacities after 4 years. It was concluded that apatite had the best effect on the long-term stability of immobilized Cu and Cd and can be applied to immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soils.     

Transfer of Cd, Pb, and Zn to water spinach from a polluted soil amended with lime and organic materials

Purpose

The transfer of heavy metals from soil to crops comprises several steps, including soil-to-root and subsequent root-to-shoot tranfer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the different steps of soil-to-crop transfer of Cd, Pb, and Zn.

Materials and methods

This study was carried out with a greenhouse pot experiment using a soil polluted with Cd, Pb, and Zn which was amended with rice straw, pig manure, sheep dung, or peat, with and without lime. Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) was used as the test crop and was grown after a season of rice cultivation.

Results and discussion

The results showed that all the amendments promoted the root-to-shoot transfer of Cd, Pb, and Zn. The soil-to-root transfer factors (TFs) of Pb and Zn tended to increase with increasing available Pb and Zn in the soils, while no clear relationship between the TF of Cd and available soil Cd was observed. The root-to-shoot TF of Cd, Pb, and Zn tended to decrease with increasing available amounts in the soils and were negatively correlated with the concentrations of the metals in the roots (r _Cd?=?0.820, r _Pb?=?0.789, r _Zn?=?0.769).

Conclusions

The soil-to-root transfer of Cd, Pb, and Zn was significantly different from the root-to-shoot transfer. The soil-to-root transfer was mainly influenced by the amount of available metal in soil, whereas the root-to-shoot transfer was mainly controlled by the concentrations of the metals in the root.     

Effects of biochar on Cd and Pb mobility and microbial community composition in a calcareous soil planted with tobacco

An experiment was conducted with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown in a Cd- and Pb-contaminated calcareous soil amended with 0.0, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0% (w/w) tobacco stalk biochar (BC). The BC amendment significantly increased organic matter, total C, N, P, and K contents of soil, and the C/N ratio. Bioavailable metal concentrations (DTPA extraction) decreased by increasing BC application rate. The 5.0% BC amendment significantly decreased the DTPA-extractable Cd and Pb by 10.4 and 13.6%, respectively. Correspondingly, the bioaccumulation and translocation factors of Cd and Pb also decreased by increasing the BC addition rates and this indicated that BC inhibited the uptake and transfer of both Cd and Pb by tobacco plants. Moreover, high-throughput sequencing revealed that BC increased Chao1 richness, Shannon’s diversity and Simpson’s diversity of bacterial communities of soil. The relative abundance and genera composition of Adhaeribacter, Rhodoplanes, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Candidatus Xiphinematobacter increased under BC treatments, while those of Kaistobacter, Lacibacter, and Pirellula decreased. Overall, BC increased soil nutrients (C, N, P, and K contents), enhanced bacterial diversity indexes and richness, and changed the bacterial community composition, which may all have contributed to reduce the mobility and bioavailability of both Cd and Pb in a calcareous soil.     

微生物和生物炭联用对猪粪堆肥后重金属Pb和Cd的钝化效果

为探讨微生物和生物炭联用对畜禽粪便堆肥过程中重金属钝化效果的影响,该文研究生物炭(花生壳炭、木屑炭、玉米秸秆炭)与复合微生物菌剂联用对重金属Pb、Cd形态转化及钝化效果的影响。试验结果表明:9个处理高温期维持天数均达无害化卫生要求,生物炭添加比例对堆肥过程中温度变化影响显著。对Pb的钝化效果最优处理是24%花生壳生物炭和1%的菌剂(T9),可交换态分配率较堆前下降16.32%,钝化效率为74.60%。对Cd的钝化效果最优的处理是24%木屑炭和1.5%的菌剂(T3),交换态Cd与堆前相比下降7.96%,钝化效率为58.13%。统计分析结果表明,重金属Pb、Cd的钝化效果与堆肥过程中平均pH值呈显著正相关,重金属Pb的钝化效果与堆肥过程中温度平均值呈显著正相关,重金属Cd的钝化效果与有机质降解率呈显著正相关。     

Micro/nanostructured hydroxyapatite structurally enhances the immobilization for Cu and Cd in contaminated soil

Purpose

The presence of high copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in soils around mining areas has raised serious health concerns. Improving hydroxyapatite (HAP) adsorption capacity for Cu and Cd is important if its application potential in heavily contaminated soils is to expand.

Materials and methods

The micro/nanostructured HAP (mnHAP) was synthesized using a template-induced method to improve the HAP immobilization of Cu and Cd in contaminated soils. Commercial and synthetic HAPs were evaluated as amendments in Cu and Cd remediation tests with 1.5 and 3.0 % addition level for 90 days, and soils without HAP materials (0.0 %) were designated as the controls; each treatment was repeated three times. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N₂ adsorption, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy-dispersive spectra (EDS) and then quantitatively determined the Cu and Cd contents by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results and discussion

The mnHAP was more effective in immobilizing Cu and Cd than the two commercial HAPs. After treatment with mnHAP at the 3.0 % addition level for 90 days, the contaminated soils showed 55.2 and 84.8 % reductions in Cu and Cd concentrations in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) leaching procedure, respectively. The experimental data indicated that the enhanced Cu and Cd immobilization by mnHAP was due to the increases of surface area and the improvement of structure and newly introduced carboxylate groups on its surface.

Conclusions

These findings show that regulating the structure and surface properties of HAP can enhance Cu and Cd immobilization in soils.

     

Heavy metal accumulations of 24 asparagus bean cultivars grown in soil contaminated with Cd alone and with multiple metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn)

Crops grown in heavy metal contaminated soils are an important avenue for these toxic pollutants entering the human food chain. Information on how crops respond to soil contaminations of single versus multiple metals is scarce and much needed. This study investigated the accumulation of Cd by 24 cultivars of asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. Sesquipedalis L., family Fabaceae) under a low level (0.8 mg kg-1) and a high level (11.8 mg kg-1) of Cd exposure in a garden experiment, and that in a field experiment with Cd, Pb, and Zn (1.2, 486, and 1114 mg kg-1, respectively) contaminated soil. Both experiments showed that there were highly significant variations among the tested cultivars in Cd accumulation by roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of asparagus bean. In the garden experiment, all cultivars under the low Cd exposure and 41.7% of the tested cultivars under the high Cd exposure bore fruits (pods) whose Cd concentrations were lower than 0.05 mg kg-1 fw and therefore were safe for consumption. In addition, the fruit Cd concentrations of cultivars with black seed coats were significantly lower than those with red or spotted seed coats. These results suggest that asparagus bean is a hypo-accumulator to Cd pollutant and the trait of Cd accumulation is genetic-dependent among cultivars. In the field experiment, correlation between fruit Cd and Pb concentrations was significantly positive (p < 0.05). Additional correlation analyses between two experiments showed that fruit Cd concentrations in the field experiment were significantly correlated with those exposed to the high level of Cd stress, instead of to the low level of Cd stress in the garden experiment. This suggests that the presence of other toxic heavy metals in the soil might have facilitated the accumulation of Cd in fruits, and the selection of pollution-safe-cultivars (PSC) in multi-metal polluted condition could refer to the PSCs selected under a high level exposure of a single heavy metal.     

Characterization of phosphorus engineered biochar and its impact on immobilization of Cd and Pb from smelting contaminated soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Biochar has been used as an amendment to immobilize toxic metals (TMs) and increase nutrient content in the contaminated soil. In this study, Ca(H2PO4)2-engineered...     

Chicken-manure-derived biochar reduced bioavailability of copper in a contaminated soil

Purpose

Copper (Cu) contamination has been increasing in land ecosystems due to economic development activities. Excessive amount of Cu in soils is toxic to both plants and microorganisms. Biochar (BC) is known to immobilize soil Cu. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effects of chicken-manure-derived BC (CMB) on Cu immobilization, and growth of native metallophyte Oenothera picensis in a Cu-contaminated soil.

Materials and methods

A Cu-contaminated sandy soil (338 mg Cu kg^?1) was spiked and equilibrated with additional Cu (0, 100, and 500 mg Cu kg^?1). The spiked soil was then amended with CMB (0, 5, and 10 % w/w) and incubated for 2 weeks. The metallophyte was grown on these treatments under greenhouse conditions for 3 months. Pore water solutions were collected from the plant pots every 30 days. After the harvest, soil and pore water pH, soil Cu fractions, pore water Cu concentration, soil microbial activity, plant biomass weight, and Cu concentration in plant parts were determined.

Results and discussion

The CMB increased the pH of soils and soil pore water, and probably also soil major nutrients. It reduced the exchangeable fraction of Cu but increased its organic matter and residual fractions. At the same time, it decreased the Cu concentration in the soil pore water. The CMB increased basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity. The CMB application produced up to three and seven times more root and shoot biomass, respectively. In addition, shoots accumulated lesser Cu than control but roots did more. Plants survived in soil that was spiked with 500 mg Cu kg^?1, only when CMB dose was 10 %.

Conclusions

The CMB affected the Cu uptake in plant by altering the mobility, bioavailability, and spatial distribution of Cu in soils. The increase in available nutrients and decrease in Cu toxicity facilitated plant growth. The increased microbial activity probably also promoted the plant growth and reduced the Cu bioavailability. Therefore, CMB can be used to remediate Cu-contaminated soils.

     

Enhanced sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by soil amended with biochar

Purpose  

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants in agricultural soils in China. Biochar is the charred product of biomass pyrolysis, which is widely applied to soils to sequestrate atmospheric carbon dioxide and guarantees a long-term benefit for soil fertility. Knowledge about the impacts of various biochars on soil sorption affinity remains obscure. In this study, we evaluated the effects of various biochars on PAHs sorption to biochar-amended agricultural soil.     

Microbial activity and metabolic quotient of microbes in soils amended with biochar and contaminated with atrazine and paraquat

The study was conducted to determine how biochar as a soil amendment maintained the microbial community in pesticide contaminated soils. Alfisol (Adenta series – Typic Kandiustalf) and Vertisol (Akuse series – Typic Calciustert) were amended with biochar (0 t/ha biochar, 10 t/ha cocoa husk biochar (CHB), 10 t/ha rice husk biochar (RHB)) and pesticides (atrazine and paraquat at two rates each namely 0 kg/ha pesticide and 10 times the normal recommended rate of pesticide) were applied. The CHB-amended soils stimulated microbial activities such as ammonia and nitrate release more than the RHB-amended soils. Basal respiration was significantly higher in the atrazine polluted soils than in paraquat polluted soil. Significant interaction occurred between soil type and biochar and high microbial biomass carbon was recorded for vertisol amended with CHB. Metabolic quotient was lower in soils amended with biochar and polluted with atrazine than in the un-amended soil. The use of CHB in soil of high clay content (47.5%, i.e. the vertisol) was a more effective management tool in maintaining the microbial community in a pesticide-polluted environment than in soil of lower clay content (22.5%). Soils of high clay content amended with biochar can sustain the soil microbial community even in a disturbed environment.     

Solubility control of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in contaminated soils

We developed a semiempirical equation from metal complextion theory which relates the metal activity of soil solutions to the soil's pH, organic matter content (OM) and total metal content (MT). The equation has the general form: where pM is the negative logarithm (to base 10) of the metal activity, and a, b and c are constants. The equation successfully predicted free Cu²⁺ activity in soils with a wide range of properties, including soils previously treated with sewage sludge. The significant correlation of pCu to these measured soil properties in long-contaminated soils suggests that copper activity is controlled by adsorption on organic matter under steady state conditions. An attempt was made from separate published data to correlate total soluble Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in soils to soil pH, organic matter content and total metal content. For Cu, the total Cu content of the soil was most highly correlated with total soluble Cu. Similarly, total soluble Zn and Cd were correlated with total metal content, but were more strongly related to soil pH than was soluble Cu. Smaller metal solubility in response to higher soil pH was most marked for Zn and Cd, metals that tend not to complex strongly with soluble organics. The organic matter content was often, but not always, a statistically significant variable in predicting metal solubility from soil properties. The solubility of Pb was less satisfactorily predicted from measured soil properties than solubility of the other metals. It seems that for Cu at least, solid organic matter limits free metal activity, whilst dissolved organic matter promotes metal solubility, in soils well-aged with respect to the metal pollutant. Although total metal content alone is not generally a good predictor of metal solubility or activity, it assumes great importance when comparing metal solubility in soils having similar pH and organic matter content.     

Labile and stable pools of organic matter in soil amended with sewage sludge biochar

One of the main advantages of using biochar for agricultural purposes is its ability to store carbon (C) in soil for a long-term. Studies of labile and stable fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) may be a good indicator of the dynamics of biochar in soils. This study evaluated the effects of applying sewage sludge biochar (SSB) in combination with mineral fertilizer on fractions of SOM. To conduct this evaluation, 15 Mg ha^?1 of SSB combined or not with mineral fertilizer (NPK) was applied to the soil in two cropping seasons. Apart from total organic C (TOC), the labile and stable fractions of SOM were also determined. The combined use of SSB and NPK resulted in higher TOC, a 22% to 40% increase compared to the control and to the NPK treatments, respectively. The SSB produced at a lower temperature increased the labile fractions of SOM, especially the microbial biomass C, showing its capacity to supply nutrients in the short-term. The stable pools of SOM are increased after adding SSB produced at a higher temperature. It was concluded that pyrolysis temperature is a key-factor that determines the potential of SSB to accumulate C in labile and stable fractions of SOM.     

Influence of organic and inorganic passivators on Cd and Pb stabilization and microbial biomass in a contaminated paddy soil

Purpose

Soil contamination with heavy metals, such as Cd and Pb, has caused severe health and environmental risks all over the world. Possible eco-friendly solutions for Cd and Pb immobilization were required to reduce its mobility through various cost-effective amendments.

Materials and methods

A laboratory incubation study was conducted to assess the efficiency of biochar (BC), zeolite (ZE), and rock phosphate (RP) as passivators for the stabilization of Cd and Pb in paddy soil as well as soil microbial biomass. Various extraction techniques were carried out: a sequential extraction procedure, the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, and single extraction with CaCl₂. The impact of passivators on soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) was examined in the metal contaminated soil.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the exchangeable portion of Cd in soil was significantly reduced by 34.8, 21.6, and 18.8% with ZE, RP, and BC at a 3% application rate, respectively. A similar tendency of reduction in Pb soluble portion was observed by ZE (9.6%), RP (20%), and BC (21.4%) at a 3% application rate. Moreover, the TCLP leachate of Cd and Pb was apparently reduced by 17 and 30.3% with BC at a 3% application dose, respectively, when compared to the control. Soil pH, nutrients, and microbial biomass C, N, and P were significantly increased with the addition of BC, RP, and ZE passivators.

Conclusions

The results showed that the incorporation of BC, ZE, and RP significantly reduced the Cd and Pb mobility in paddy soil as well as enhanced soil nutrients and microbial biomass. Overall, among all the amendments, rice straw derived-BC performed better for Cd and Pb immobilization in paddy soil.

     

Fractionation of copper and cadmium and their binding with soil organic matter in a contaminated soil amended with organic materials

Purpose  

The contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Organic amendments can be used for the immobilization and binding of heavy metal ions in soils by complexation, adsorption, and precipitation. A field trial was carried out to evaluate the influence of some low-cost organic materials such as rice straw (RS), green manure (GM), and pig manure (PM) on the distribution of Cu and Cd and the retention of these metals by organic matter fractions in heavy metal-polluted soils.     

环境材料对Pb、Cd污染土壤玉米生长及土壤改良效果的影响

为探索环境材料对种植于Pb、Cd污染土壤中的玉米生长、品质的影响, 以及对Pb、Cd重金属污染土壤的改良效应, 本文采用温室盆栽方法, 研究了不同环境材料[腐殖质类材料(HA)、高分子材料(SAP)、煤基复合材料(FM)及粉质矿物材料(FS)]及其复合处理对Pb-Cd复合污染土壤中玉米(Zea mays L.)生长、品质及根系土壤环境的影响。结果表明, 添加环境材料组合F22(FM+SAP)、F23(FS+SAP)及F32(HA+SAP+FS)能促进苗期玉米生长, 长势好于对照; 所有环境材料处理中玉米地上部粗灰分含量都低于对照, 添加单一环境材料对玉米地上部粗淀粉含量的提高效果高于对照、优于组合; 处理FM、F33(SAP+FM+FS)及F4(HA+SAP+FM+FS)对土壤中Pb固定效果显著, 抑制土壤中Pb向玉米体内迁移; 单一处理FM、FS及组合F33(SAP+FM+FS)对土壤重金属Cd固化效果明显, 抑制土壤中Cd向玉米体内迁移。环境材料的添加在一定程度上有助于土壤基本理化性质的改善, 促进土壤改良, 同时环境材料对阻止土壤重金属向植物体迁移有一定作用。     

生物炭对红壤和褐土中镉形态的影响

【目的】重金属对环境危害的大小主要取决于其形态分布,尤其是生物有效态镉 (Cd) 的含量和存在比例。添加生物炭可以降低Cd超标土壤中生物有效态Cd的含量,本文研究了施用生物炭后红壤和褐土中Cd形态的变化及其与生物炭施用量的关系,以加深对生物炭修复Cd污染土壤机理的认识。【方法】选择红壤 (pH 5.21) 和褐土 (pH 7.75) 两类土壤进行了室内培养试验。将两个过2 mm筛的自然风干土壤各40 kg,分别装于20 L塑料盒中,加Cd(NO₃)₂溶液使土壤外源Cd含量达到5 mg/kg,保持70%田间最大持水量,于25℃条件下平衡两周;之后,在每1000 g土内,分别添加生物炭0、5、10、20 g,均匀混合后,室温培养50 d;在培养1、4、7、14、21、35、49 d时分别取样,测定土壤pH和有机碳含量,利用Tessier分级法测定土壤Cd形态。【结果】红壤pH随生物炭施用量的增加显著升高,培养14天后,生物炭施加量为2%时,土壤由酸性变为弱碱性,生物炭对褐土pH的提高作用不显著。红壤和褐土有机碳含量均随生物炭施用量的增加而升高。培养49天后,红壤可交换态Cd含量的降幅较大,降幅为0.31～0.82 mg/kg,且处理2%的可交换态Cd含量最低,为1.24 mg/kg,生物炭施用量2%的红壤碳酸盐结合态Cd含量最高,为1.06 mg/kg,施用生物炭的红壤碳酸盐结合态Cd和Fe、Mn氧化物结合态Cd所占比例增加了3.14%～14.21%、8.20%～23.96%,施用生物炭的褐土碳酸盐结合态Cd和Fe、Mn氧化物结合态Cd升高了0.94%～2.61%、0.80%～7.90%。褐土的土壤有机碳含量和生物炭施用量与土壤可交换态Cd呈极显著负相关关系,与土壤碳酸盐结合态Cd,土壤Fe、Mn氧化物结合态Cd和土壤有机结合态Cd呈极显著正相关关系;红壤pH、有机碳含量和生物炭施用量均与土壤可交换态Cd呈极显著负相关关系,与土壤其他四种形态Cd呈极显著正相关关系。但在红壤中土壤有机碳和生物炭施用量与各形态Cd的相关系数均大于在褐土中的相关系数。【结论】综合分析两种类型土壤中Cd形态的变化,发现生物炭对红壤的修复效果优于对褐土的修复效果,因此生物炭可以作为Cd污染的酸性土壤的一种修复改良材料。     

Bioavailability of zinc and lead from a contaminated soil amended with pine bark-goat manure compost

The distribution in soil and plant uptake of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) as influenced by pine bark-goat manure (PBG) compost additions were investigated from the soils artificially contaminated with Zn or Pb ions using maize (Zea mays L.) as a test crop. Soils were amended with four rates of pine bark-goat manure compost (0, 50, 100, and 200 tons ha^?1) and four rates (0, 300, 600 and 1200 mg kg^?1) of Zn or Pb. Maize was planted and grown for 42 days. At harvest, plants samples were analyzed for Zn and Pb concentration. Soils samples were analyzed for pH, extractable and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Zn and Pb. Extractable Zn and Pb was lower in PBG compost amended soils than in unamended soils and steadily declined with increasing amount of compost applied. The extractable fraction for Zn dropped by 62.2, 65.0 and 44.6% for 300, 600 and 1200 mg Zn kg^?1, respectively when 200 t ha^?1 of PBG compost was applied. Metal uptake by maize plants were directly related to the rate of applied heavy metal ions with greater concentrations of metals ions found where metal ions were added to non-amended soils.     

Effects of natural zeolites on ryegrass growth and bioavailability of Cd,Ni, Pb,and Zn in an Albanian contaminated soil

Purpose

The use of eco-friendly and cost-effective adsorbent materials in the remediation of soils contaminated by potentially toxic elements (PTE) is a sustainable way of reducing the transfer of these elements into the food chain. However, an evaluation of the potential of natural zeolites to immobilize toxic elements in contaminated soils was required to enable their efficient use.

Materials and methods

The effect of natural zeolite (Stilbite-Stellerite) from the Munella area (Northern Albania), added at rates ranging from 1.25 to 10 % w/w on a contaminated soil was investigated in a greenhouse pot experiment with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and by selective extractions. PTE availability for plants was assessed either as their accumulation in plant tissue or by DTPA-extraction. Oral bio-accessibility was estimated by the in vitro PBET method and the mobility and consequent potential risk of leaching by the USEPA TLCP method. The effect of zeolites on soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity-EC, organic C, and total N) was also investigated. A five steps sequential extraction procedure (SEP) was applied to investigate the immobilization mechanism.

Results and discussion

The addition of 2.5% w/w of natural zeolites caused a significant decrease of PTE mobility, but to observe a significant reduction of DTPA-extractable metals, it was necessary to reach 10% addition rate. In contrast, plant growth showed a gradual increase with addition rate and a corresponding decrease of concentration of PTE in plant tissue. Correlation between DTPA-extractable PTE and their concentration in both root and shoot plant tissue was rather poor. Human hazard due to soil ingestion (PBET method) changed only for Cu and Zn in the gastric phase with 1.25 and 5% addition rate respectively, whereas decreased for Cu and Zn at 5% rate in the Intestinal phase. The results of SEP support the hypothesis that the main mechanism involved in metals fixation are as follows: (1) insolubilization by pH rise, (2) adsorption on Fe/Mn oxides (3) increase of cation exchange retention, (4) organic complexation.

Conclusions

The results of this work suggest that the addition of natural zeolites from the Munella area (AL) is a sustainable practice to reduce the environmental impact of PTE contaminated soils, but an assessment on the longevity of their immobilization need to be evaluated in the long-term perspectives.

     

Heavy metals immobilization in contaminated soil by grape-pruning-residue biochar

To investigate the influence of grape-pruning-residue (GPR) biochar on cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) immobilization in a contaminated soil, a laboratory study was conducted with different rates of GPR biochar (0, 2, 5 and 10% w/w) at 25°C. After 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of incubation, the Tessier sequential extraction procedure was performed and metal mobility factor (MF) and metal stability index (I_R) were calculated. The exchangeable (EX) and carbonate (CAR) fractions of the metals decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with the biochar addition. The EX metal fractions decreased by 23 to 72%, and the CAR fractions decreased by 51 to 67% in the 10% biochar treatment after 8-week incubation. The MF values of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn decreased by 47, 62, 70 and 49%, respectively, with addition %10 of the biochar. Biochar addition favored the metal redistribution into more stable fractions and resulted in an increase in I_R values. The results demonstrated that the GPR biochar, especially at high application rate (10%), can effectively immobilize the heavy metals, thereby reducing their mobility in contaminated soils.