IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i20p13637-d949227.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Stabilization of Soil Co-Contaminated with Mercury and Arsenic by Different Types of Biochar

Author

Listed:
  • Yang Wei

    (Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an Jiaotong University Technology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements, Xi’an 710075, China
    Land Engineering Technology Transformation Center, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Institute of Land Engineering and Technology, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Key Laboratory of Degraded and Unused Land Consolidation Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710075, China)

  • Risheng Li

    (Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an Jiaotong University Technology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements, Xi’an 710075, China
    Land Engineering Technology Transformation Center, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Institute of Land Engineering and Technology, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Key Laboratory of Degraded and Unused Land Consolidation Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710075, China)

  • Nan Lu

    (Land Engineering Technology Transformation Center, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Institute of Land Engineering and Technology, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Key Laboratory of Degraded and Unused Land Consolidation Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710075, China)

  • Baoqiang Zhang

    (Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an Jiaotong University Technology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements, Xi’an 710075, China
    Land Engineering Technology Transformation Center, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Institute of Land Engineering and Technology, Shaanxi Provincial Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
    Key Laboratory of Degraded and Unused Land Consolidation Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710075, China)

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) are toxic and harmful heavy metals, with exceedance rates of 1.6% and 2.7%, respectively, in soils across China. Compared to soils contaminated with Hg or As alone, co-contaminated soils pose complex environmental risks and are difficult to remediate. Biochar is widely used as a soil amendment to adsorb and immobilize pollutants such as heavy metals. However, only a few studies have explored the efficiency of biochars produced from different crop straws to reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals in co-contaminated soils, and the effects on soil biological properties are often overlooked. The aim of this study was to investigate changes to the physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and heavy metal bioavailability of an industrial soil co-contaminated with Hg and As upon the addition of different biochars from reed, cassava, and rice straws (REB, CAB, and RIB, respectively). The soil was amended with 1% biochar and planted with spinach in pots for 30 days. RIB was more effective than REB and CAB in increasing the soil pH, organic matter content, and cation exchange capacity. RIB and CAB exhibited similar positive effects on the soil dehydrogenase, catalase, invertase, and urease activities, which were higher than those of REB. The exchangeable fraction of both metals decreased upon biochar addition, and the residual fraction showed the opposite trend. All biochar amendments reduced the bioconcentration factors of heavy metals (especially Hg) in plants and decreased the metal bioavailability in soil. RIB is the optimal amendment for the stabilization of soil co-contaminated with Hg and As.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang Wei & Risheng Li & Nan Lu & Baoqiang Zhang, 2022. "Stabilization of Soil Co-Contaminated with Mercury and Arsenic by Different Types of Biochar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13637-:d:949227
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13637/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13637/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Samir A. Haddad & Joanna Lemanowicz, 2021. "Benefits of Corn-Cob Biochar to the Microbial and Enzymatic Activity of Soybean Plants Grown in Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Kambo, Harpreet Singh & Dutta, Animesh, 2015. "A comparative review of biochar and hydrochar in terms of production, physico-chemical properties and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 359-378.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giuseppe Maggiotto & Gianpiero Colangelo & Marco Milanese & Arturo de Risi, 2023. "Thermochemical Technologies for the Optimization of Olive Wood Biomass Energy Exploitation: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Sui, Haiqing & Chen, Jianfeng & Cheng, Wei & Zhu, Youjian & Zhang, Wennan & Hu, Junhao & Jiang, Hao & Shao, Jing'ai & Chen, Hanping, 2024. "Effect of oxidative torrefaction on fuel and pelletizing properties of agricultural biomass in comparison with non-oxidative torrefaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    4. Mäkelä, Mikko & Yoshikawa, Kunio, 2016. "Simulating hydrothermal treatment of sludge within a pulp and paper mill," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 177-183.
    5. Yao, Zhongliang & Ma, Xiaoqian & Xiao, Zhiyuan, 2020. "The effect of two pretreatment levels on the pyrolysis characteristics of water hyacinth," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 514-527.
    6. Tobias Pröll & Florian Zerobin, 2019. "Biomass-based negative emission technology options with combined heat and power generation," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 1307-1324, October.
    7. Tariqul Islam & Yanliang Li & Hefa Cheng, 2021. "Biochars and Engineered Biochars for Water and Soil Remediation: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-25, September.
    8. Chater, Hamza & Asbik, Mohamed, 2024. "Innovative mathematical approach for hydrothermal carbonization process using an inverse method: Experimental analysis, rheology behavior, and numerical comparative investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    9. Aragón-Briceño, C.I. & Pozarlik, A.K. & Bramer, E.A. & Niedzwiecki, Lukasz & Pawlak-Kruczek, H. & Brem, G., 2021. "Hydrothermal carbonization of wet biomass from nitrogen and phosphorus approach: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 401-415.
    10. Leslie Lara-Ramos & Ana Cervera-Mata & Jesús Fernández-Bayo & Miguel Navarro-Alarcón & Gabriel Delgado & Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga, 2023. "Hydrochars Derived from Spent Coffee Grounds as Zn Bio-Chelates for Agronomic Biofortification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-13, July.
    11. Lee, Jechan & Kim, Soosan & You, Siming & Park, Young-Kwon, 2023. "Bioenergy generation from thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass-based integrated renewable energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    12. Baghel, Paramjeet & Sakhiya, Anil Kumar & Kaushal, Priyanka, 2022. "Influence of temperature on slow pyrolysis of Prosopis Juliflora: An experimental and thermodynamic approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 538-551.
    13. Eunhye Song & Ho Kim & Kyung Woo Kim & Young-Man Yoon, 2023. "Characteristic Evaluation of Different Carbonization Processes for Hydrochar, Torrefied Char, and Biochar Produced from Cattle Manure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, April.
    14. Poritosh Roy & Animesh Dutta & Jim Gallant, 2018. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Peat Moss and Herbaceous Biomass (Miscanthus): A Potential Route for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Neel Patel & Bishnu Acharya & Prabir Basu, 2021. "Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of Seaweed (Macroalgae) for Producing Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.
    16. Surup, Gerrit Ralf & Leahy, James J. & Timko, Michael T. & Trubetskaya, Anna, 2020. "Hydrothermal carbonization of olive wastes to produce renewable, binder-free pellets for use as metallurgical reducing agents," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 347-357.
    17. Waheed A. Rasaq & Mateusz Golonka & Miklas Scholz & Andrzej Białowiec, 2021. "Opportunities and Challenges of High-Pressure Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Bonassa, Gabriela & Schneider, Lara Talita & Canever, Victor Bruno & Cremonez, Paulo André & Frigo, Elisandro Pires & Dieter, Jonathan & Teleken, Joel Gustavo, 2018. "Scenarios and prospects of solid biofuel use in Brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2365-2378.
    19. Cheng, Chen & Ding, Lu & Guo, Qinghua & He, Qing & Gong, Yan & Alexander, Kozlov N. & Yu, Guangsuo, 2022. "Process analysis and kinetic modeling of coconut shell hydrothermal carbonization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    20. Shen, Yafei & Yu, Shili & Ge, Shun & Chen, Xingming & Ge, Xinlei & Chen, Mindong, 2017. "Hydrothermal carbonization of medical wastes and lignocellulosic biomass for solid fuel production from lab-scale to pilot-scale," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 312-323.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13637-:d:949227. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.