scholarly journals Effect of Biochar Application Depth on a Former Mine Technosol: Impact on Metal(Loid)s and Alnus Growth

Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Gloria Palmeggiani ◽  
Manhattan Lebrun ◽  
Melissa Simiele ◽  
Sylvain Bourgerie ◽  
Domenico Morabito
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Surrounding Area ◽  
Iron Sulphate ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Potential Damage ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Similar Growth ◽  
Over Time

The contamination of soil by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is a problem resulting from various anthropic activities including the exploitation of mines, which determines an accumulation of metal(loid)s in the surrounding area. It is therefore necessary to use remediation techniques to prevent the potential damage to human health and the ecosystem. One of these techniques is phytoremediation, which involves the revegetation of contaminated areas in such a way as to reduce the spread of contaminants and entry into the groundwater by stabilizing the metal(loid)s in the soil, decreasing their mobility. To increase the ability of plants to grow under the extreme conditions of contaminated soils, it is necessary to use amendments, which can also intervene directly in reducing the mobility of contaminants. In this study, an open-field mesocosm was set up using a former mining technosol contaminated mainly by As. A biochar produced from hardwood was added at two different depths to evaluate the effectiveness of these application modalities for an overall observation duration of 17 months. Iron sulphate was also applied in both non-biochar and biochar amended conditions. In addition, trees of Alnus sp. were planted to examine the effectiveness of these plants for their use in soil remediation and the effect of the treatments used. The results showed an increase in soil pH induced by the biochar, which decreased over time. During the period examined, the application of biochar in the deepest layer was able to retain As more effectively. The Alnus sp. showed similar growth rates among the various treatments, resulting from its tolerance towards arsenic.

Biochar as an (Im)mobilizing Agent for the Potentially Toxic Elements in Contaminated Soils

2019 ◽  
pp. 255-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabry M. Shaheen ◽  
Ali El-Naggar ◽  
Jianxu Wang ◽  
Noha E.E. Hassan ◽  
Nabeel Khan Niazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements

Mercury and other potentially toxic elements in the Sierra Gorda (Queretaro area, Mexico): affection to enzymatic activity in soils.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Higueras ◽  
Karen Arroyo ◽  
JuanAntonio Campos ◽  
Jesus Peco ◽  
JoseMaria Esbrí ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Permissible Limits ◽  
Study Sites

<p>Cinnabar mining, to obtain mercury, is still an important activity for the residents of the Sierra Gorda in Mexico, so this activity is currently source of mercury emission and possibly of other potentially toxic elements (PTE). In this work, seven study sites, located in areas with presence of exploitations of active or decommissioned mercury mines, have been studies with the aim of characterizing its occurrence and their effects on soil health.</p><p>Biogeochemical analyses have been carried out with the purpose of identifying the key factors related with nutritional and toxicological status of these soils, looking for possible relationships between mercury, PTEs and their impact on the enzymatic activity of the soil.</p><p>The values ​​obtained for total mercury ranged from 5 to 159 ppm; comparing these values with those from an uncontaminated area, we observe that all zones are above reference range (0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg) and that four of them exceed the maximum permissible limits (23 mg/kg), according to Mexican regulations. Other measured PTE elements were Pb, with a range between 18.7 to 814.1 mg/kg; Cu between 45.4 to 94.2 mg/kg; Zn between 145.1 to 555.8 mg/kg; As between 30.5 to 1590 mg/kg; and Sb between 18.3 to 169.6 mg/kg.  Comparing with other areas, anomalous concentrations of trace elements in soils with the following values are considered: Pb up to 10,000 mg/kg, Cu up to 2,000 mg/kg, Zn up to 10,000 mg/kg and As up to 2500 mg/kg; none of the determined elements exceeds these reference values. In the case of enzymatic activities, a range between 111.36 and 332.38 µgTPF g<sup>-1</sup>day<sup>-1</sup> was obtained with dehydrogenase. These values are slightly higher compared to other Hg contaminated soils (110 µgTPF g<sup>-1</sup>day<sup>-1</sup>) described by this team. For the acid phosphatase, a range between 516.72 to 1606.34 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup>; and for alkaline phosphatase a range between 1624.92 to 4070.82 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup>. These values correspond to those measured in Sokolov, Czech Republic, ranging from 381 to 1510 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup> for acid phosphatase and 455 to 4820 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup> for alkaline phosphatase measured in topsoil layer from spoil heaps after brown coal mining.</p><p>Our results show that the soil has contents of PTE elements indicating low pollution degree, except for Hg, registering concentrations above the maximum permissible limits for non-industrial soils; however, the results of the enzymatic activity reflect a "good" activity. Therefore, the incidence of the presence of these metals in the soil health, as measured through enzymatic activity, does not have a significant impact and the studied soils can be considered as suitable for commercial, residential or agricultural uses.</p>

scholarly journals Soil amendments for immobilization of potentially toxic elements in contaminated soils: A critical review

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 105046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya ◽  
Sabry M. Shaheen ◽  
Season S. Chen ◽  
Daniel C.W. Tsang ◽  
Yohey Hashimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements

Solid speciation and mobility of potentially toxic elements from natural and contaminated soils: A combined approach

Chemosphere ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 776-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kierczak ◽  
C. Neel ◽  
U. Aleksander-Kwaterczak ◽  
E. Helios-Rybicka ◽  
H. Bril ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Combined Approach

scholarly journals The impact of various grape stock cultivars on the As, Cu, Co and Zn content of the grape berry (must, seed)

2013 ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
István Fekete ◽  
Nándor Rakonczás ◽  
Dávid Andrási ◽  
Éva Bódi ◽  
Szilárd Szilágyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Grape Berry ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Grape Berries ◽  
Zn Content ◽  
Abnormal Increase ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Arsenic Copper ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cu And Zn

Scientific research from the last decades showed that the inappropriate industrial and agricultural production caused an abnormal increase of the potentially toxic elements in the soil. Unfortunately the acidification of the soil is an increasing problem in Hungary. According to Várallyay et al. (2008) 13% of the Hungarian soils are highly acid. Accumulation of toxic elements differs in the genetically diverse plant species. The root of the plant constitutes a filter so that the rootstock is also kind of a filter system, which may prevent that the scion part (such as berry) accumulate high levels of various potentially toxic elements from the soil. The aim of research was to determine how different grape rootstocks influence the As, Co, Cu and Zn content of the musts and seeds. Thus, specifying which of the grape rootstocks takes up the lowest level of these 4 elements (As, Co, Cu and Zn), and accumulates in berries, so could reduce the potentially toxic element load of the grape berries. The grape rootstock collection of the University of Debrecen was set up in 2003 in 3x1 m spacing on immune sandy soil. Grafting of ‘Cserszegi fűszeres’ was started in 2010. We could evaluate yields harvested from 12 rootstock varieties of the experiment in October 2011. We obtained valuable differences in the arsenic, copper, cobalt and zinc concentrations of musts and seeds of ‘Cserszegi fűszeres’ grafted into different rootstocks. The results obtained from the 2011 harvest support the statement that the choice of rootstock might be an important factor to increase food safety. The differences in concentration of the four elements observed in case of the rootstock may have been caused on one hand by the rootstock effect, and on the other hand, the vintage effect has a very significant impact on the vines element uptake. Several years of experimental results will be needed to answer these questions.

scholarly journals Toward a New Way for the Valorization of Miscanthus Biomass Produced on Metal-Contaminated Soils Part 1: Mesocosm and Field Experiments

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9370
Author(s):  
Marie Hechelski ◽  
Brice Louvel ◽  
Pierrick Dufrénoy ◽  
Alina Ghinet ◽  
Christophe Waterlot
Keyword(s):  
Organic Chemistry ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Lewis Acids ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Calcium Phosphates ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus ◽  
P Fertilizers

The effects of P-fertilizers (mono- and di-calcium phosphates) on the bioavailability of metals and nutrients in leaves and stems of Miscanthus × giganteus were studied in mesocosm and field experiments in order to propose a new way for the valorization of miscanthus biomass. The concentration of potentially toxic elements was generally higher in stems than in leaves. Although P-fertilizers were added to contaminated soils under sustainable conditions (from 0.022% to 0.026% w/w), the average of leaf and stem biomass generally increased in the presence of P-fertilizers due to the changes in the speciation of phosphorus. Leaves of the investigated miscanthus may be of great interest as a catalyst in organic chemistry, since the Ca concentration was up to 9000 mg kg−1 DW. Stems represent a potential biomass that can be used as renewable resource of Lewis acids, currently used in organic syntheses (the sum of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Mg, Si and Al was near 1000 mg kg−1 DW). The percentage of Cd and Pb in leaves and stems of miscanthus did not significantly change with P-fertilizers. Depending on the mesocosm and field experiments, it ranged from 0.004% to 0.016% and from 0.009% and 0.034% for Cd in leaves and stems, respectively, and from 0.004% to 0.015% and from 0.009% and 0.033% for Pb in leaves and stems, respectively.

Possibility to use soils from abandoned mining area for agricultural aims

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Rossini-Oliva ◽  
Erika S. Santos ◽  
Maria Manuela Abreu
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Mine Wastes ◽  
Total N ◽  
Accumulation Pattern

<p>In many countries is quite common that abandoned mines are close to agricultural areas and might be used for plant food cultivation or animal grazing. However, soils adjacent to mining areas and/or developed on mine wastes can be a source of potentially toxic elements (PTE) for plants. This might be a potentially risk for human and animal health needing to be monitored before taking a decision.</p><p>Ferragudo is an abandoned Fe–Mn mine located in SW of Portugal (Beja district) considered with intermediate level of environmental hazard impact due to small volumes of mine wastes with relatively low total concentrations of PTE, except for Mn. In this area holm oak woodland was implemented and soils are usually used for grassland. Animals such as cow, sheep and goat graze in this mining area. Chemical characterization of soil-plant system and potential human health risks of the plants associated with soil contamination were assessed. Samples of oak and grass (total n=8 each) were collected (spring 2017) and composite soil samples around plants, up to 10 cm depth were also collected. Soil properties were analyzed and concentrations of macro and micronutrients in soils and plants (shoots) were determined.</p><p>No statistical differences were observed between soils around grass and oak for all the studied parameters. Soils had a pH close to neutral and a good fertility. The mean total content in soils was 86.12 and 88.36 g Mn/kg, and 47.58 and 48.45 g Fe/kg around grass and oak, respectively. These values are higher than the average concentrations in non-contaminated soils of the region (0.74 g Mn/kg and 36.83 g Fe/kg). The Mn and Fe concentration in the soils available fraction (Rhizo method) was lower compared to total (397–441 mg Mn/kg and 18–11 mg Fe/kg in oak and grass, respectively). The concentration in the available fraction of other potentially toxic elements such as Cu and Zn was very low. Although the soils had high concentrations of Mn and Fe, the plant cover is significant and soils are totally colonized by herbaceous plants. Studied species showed a different accumulation pattern for the studied elements except for Cu. Quercus ilex showed concentrations of Fe in leaves (mean 158 mg/kg) lower than in grasses (mean 272 mg Fe/kg) while the opposite pattern was observed for Mn (mean 1363 mg/kg for oak and 353 mg/kg for grasses). Manganese concentrations in oak leaves were much greater than the normal range for mature leaf tissues but non-toxic for cattle and other domestic animals. The Fe concentration in the aerial part of both plants was much lower than the maximum tolerable value for cattle, sheep and poultry and also lower than the range considered normal for plants. Copper and Zn concentration in oak and grass was below the normal values for plants and lower than toxic levels for cattle. The concentration of Mn and Fe in the aerial parts of the studied plant species did not reach toxic levels for animal graze, indicating that these soils can be used for pasture.</p>

scholarly journals Towards a Soil Remediation Strategy Using Biochar: Effects on Soil Chemical Properties and Bioavailability of Potentially Toxic Elements

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Fotis Bilias ◽  
Thomai Nikoli ◽  
Dimitrios Kalderis ◽  
Dionisios Gasparatos
Keyword(s):  
Soil Remediation ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Scientometric Analysis ◽  
Remediation Strategy ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Remediation Strategies

Soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is considered one of the most severe environmental threats, while among remediation strategies, research on the application of soil amendments has received important consideration. This review highlights the effects of biochar application on soil properties and the bioavailability of potentially toxic elements describing research areas of intense current and emerging activity. Using a visual scientometric analysis, our study shows that between 2019 and 2020, research sub-fields like earthworm activities and responses, greenhouse gass emissions, and low molecular weight organic acids have gained most of the attention when biochar was investigated for soil remediation purposes. Moreover, biomasses like rice straw, sewage sludge, and sawdust were found to be the most commonly used feedstocks for biochar production. The effect of biochar on soil chemistry and different mechanisms responsible for PTEs’ immobilization with biochar, are also briefly reported. Special attention is also given to specific PTEs most commonly found at contaminated soils, including Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, and As, and therefore are more extensively revised in this paper. This review also addresses some of the issues in developing innovative methodologies for engineered biochars, introduced alongside some suggestions which intend to form a more focused soil remediation strategy.

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