Effects of meliorative additives on the adsorption and binding forms of heavy metals in a contaminated topsoil from a former sewage farm

In a laboratory study, a heavy metal contaminated topsoil from a former sewage farm in Berlin was amended with different additives: lime, ash/gypsum, bark mulch, brown coal and combinations of these treatments. After 8 weeks of incubation, pH of the lime and ash/gypsum treatments increased to 6.2–6.3 compared to 5.2–5.3 in the control and the other treatments. Organic-C content rose from 42 g/kg in the control to 46–53 g/kg in the organic amendments. In reaction to the pH-increase the water soluble fraction of Cd, Cu and Zn was reduced by roughly 60%, 30% and 80% respectively. Cd- and Zn-binding forms as determined with NH₄-acetate- and EDTA-extracts were not affected by the treatments, while the ash/gypsum-treatment increased EDTA-extractable Pb by 17%. The exchangeable Cu-Fraction (NH₄-acetate extract) was reduced in all treatments to 82–93% of the control values, with the greatest effects in the tree bark amendment. The FREUNDLICH adsorption isotherms also show an increased sorption of heavy metals in the lime and ash/gypsum treatments. Organic amendments alone or in combination with lime had little effect on heavy metal adsorption.