Remediation of Soil Contaminated with Heavy Metals by Immobilization with Organic and Inorganic Amendments

Abstract

Heavy metals and metalloids are hazardous chemicals that very difficult undergo microbial or chemical degradation. Their presence in natural environment results mainly from anthropogenic sources, such as agriculture, oil and gas production, mining industry, and military activities. Soil pollution with heavy metals is recognized as “hot spots” posing a risk to the environment, agricultural production, food safety, and human health. Various technologies have been developed to reduce the potential for the release of metal ions into the environment and to scale down changes in the land use pattern. In situ remediation of contaminated soils by supplementing amendments is considered as a sound alternative both environmentally and economically. This method provides a long-term, relatively cheap remediation solution by reducing metal mobility and availability to plants. As steams from literature, amendments’ application can improve soil biological, chemical and physical properties and consequently enhance the plant growth. The present chapter presents the current trends (from the last decade) in the remediation of soil contaminated with heavy metal ions by their immobilization with various by-products and low-cost materials. The focus was put on the factors which determine the metal binding and transformation into more stable forms. An assessment of the effectiveness of these amendments on the soil properties and the phytoavailability to plants has been made as well.