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Degradability of natural and synthetic chelating agents applied to a lead-contaminated soil

  • Phytoremediation of Polluted Soils: Recent Progress and Developments
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Studying the rate of chelant degradation is important to select environmental friendly compounds to assist phytoextraction. The objective of the present study was to evaluate degradation rate of complexes formed between synthetic or organic chelants and Pb aiming to increase the efficiency of phytoextraction while reducing adverse effects resulting from the Pb leaching.

Materials and methods

The following six chelating agents were tested: citric acid P.A., commercial citric acid, glutamic acid P.A., monosodium glutamate, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), besides a control treatment (no addition of chelating agent); they were applied at a concentration of 10 mmol dm−3 in pots containing 1 dm3 of Pb-contaminated soil.

Results and discussion

The results of this study showed that commercial citric acid adequately solubilized Pb to levels suitable for plant uptake and showed relatively rapid biodegradation in soil. Therefore, this commercial product may be a highly promising alternative for phytoextraction studies in the field. EDTA and NTA demonstrated high Pb solubilization ability but degraded comparatively slowly; therefore, they are not recommended for use in phytoextraction due to environmental risks regarding metal leaching.

Conclusions

The results of this study showed that commercial citric acid adequately solubilized Pb to levels suitable for plant uptake and showed relatively rapid biodegradation in soil, which is associated with a low risk of groundwater contamination. Therefore, this environmental friendly and low-cost product may be a highly promising alternative for inducing Pb phytoextraction.

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Acknowledgments

Senior author is grateful to CNPq for the scholarship during his graduate course (doctorate). Clístenes Nascimento is also grateful to CNPq for a research productivity scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FACEP–Faculdade Evolução Alto Oeste Potiguar, Rua José Paulino do Rêgo, 45, Piso 2, João XXIII, Pau dos Ferros, RN, 59900-000, Brazil

    Eriberto Vagner Freitas

  2. UFRPE–Depto. de Agronomia, R. Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n-Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil

    Clístenes Nascimento

Authors
  1. Eriberto Vagner Freitas
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  2. Clístenes Nascimento
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Correspondence to Eriberto Vagner Freitas.

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Responsible editor: Jaume Bech

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Freitas, E.V., Nascimento, C. Degradability of natural and synthetic chelating agents applied to a lead-contaminated soil. J Soils Sediments 17, 1272–1278 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1350-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1350-9

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