Biochar-Assisted Phytostabilization for Potentially Toxic Element Immobilization

journal article in Web of Science

English

In response to the growing threat to the quality of the soil environment, new technologies are being developed to protect and remediate contaminated sites. A new approach, namely, assisted phytostabilization, has been used in areas contaminated with high levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), using various soil additives. This paper determined the effectiveness of biochar-assisted phytostabilization using Dactylis glomerata L. of soil contaminated with high concentrations of the selected PTEs (in mg/kg soil): Cu (780 +/- 144), Cd (25.9 +/- 2.5), Pb (13,540 +/- 669) and Zn (8433 +/- 1376). The content of the selected PTEs in the roots and above-ground parts of the tested grass, and in the soil, was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The addition of biochar to the contaminated soil led to an increase in plant biomass and caused an increase in soil pH values. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn were higher in the roots than in the above-ground parts of Dactylis glomerata L. The application of biochar significantly reduced the total content of PTEs in the soil after finishing the phytostabilization experiment, as well as reducing the content of bioavailable forms extracted from the soil using CaCl2 solution, which was clearly visible with respect to Cd and Pb. It is concluded that the use of biochar in supporting the processes of assisted phytostabilization of soils contaminated with PTEs is justified.

soil contamination; phytoremediation; soil carbon-type amendment; soil regeneration

Maja Radziemska, , Zygmunt Mariusz Gusiatin Zbigniew Mazur, Tereza Hammerschmiedt, Agnieszka Bés , Antonin Kintl, Michaela Vasinova Galiova,, Jiri Holatko, Aurelia Blazejczyk, Vinod Kumar, Martin Brtnicky

31. 12. 2021

MDPI

BASEL

2071-1050

Sustainability

14

445

Swiss Confederation

1

12

12

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/445