Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Immobilisation of metals in a contaminated soil with biochar-compost mixtures and inorganic additives: 2-year greenhouse and field experiments

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Besides carbon sequestration and improvement of soil properties, biochar (BC) has increasingly been studied as an amendment to immobilise heavy metals in contaminated soils. In a 2-year experiment, we analysed the effects of poplar BC (P-BC, mixed with compost) and gravel sludge with siderite-bearing material (GSFe) on a Cd-, Pb- and Zn-contaminated soil and on metal concentration in Miscanthus × giganteus shoots under greenhouse and field conditions. In the greenhouse, 1% (m/m) P-BC addition reduced NH4NO3-extractable Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations by 75, 86 and 92%, respectively, at the end of the study. In the leachates, P-BC (1%) could significantly reduce Cd and Zn in both years. In the field, P-BC (3%) induced a reduction of extractable Cd by 87% whereas a combination of P-BC + GSFe reduced Pb by 82% and Zn by 98% in the first year and by 83 and 96% in the second year. In contrast, the metal immobilisation in the soil was hardly reflected in the shoots of Miscanthus × giganteus which generally showed metal concentrations close to control. While Cd was not influenced in both years, Pb and Zn were slightly reduced. Our study confirmed that Miscanthus is an efficient metal excluder, corroborating its suitability for the production of renewable biomass on metal-contaminated soils.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad M, Rajapaksha AU, Lim JE, Zhang M, Bolan N, Mohan D et al (2014) Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: a review. Chemosphere 99:19–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad M, Soo Lee S, Yang JE, Ro H-M, Han Lee Y, Ok YS (2012) Effects of soil dilution and amendments (mussel shell, cow bone, and biochar) on Pb availability and phytotoxicity in military shooting range soil. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 79:225–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Austrian Standards S 2088-2 (2014) Contaminated sites—part 2: application-specific evaluation of soil pollution of old sites and old waste dumps. Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Beesley L, Moreno-Jiménez E, Gomez-Eyles JL, Harris E, Robinson B, Sizmur T (2011) A review of biochars’ potential role in the remediation, revegetation and restoration of contaminated soils. Environ Pollut 159(12):3269–3282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beesley L, Marmiroli M (2011) The immobilisation and retention of soluble arsenic, cadmium and zinc by biochar. Environ Pollut 159(2):474–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui L, Pan G, Li L, Yan J, Zhang A, Bian R, Chang A (2012) The reduction of wheat Cd uptake in contaminated soil via biochar amendment: a two-year field experiment. Bioresources 7(4):5666–5676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui H, Fan Y, Fang G, Zhang H, Su B, Zhou J (2016) Leachability, availability and bioaccessibility of Cu and Cd in a contaminated soil treated with apatite, lime and charcoal: a five-year field experiment. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 134:148–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon WJ (1950) Analysis of extreme values. Ann Math Stat 21(4):488–506

  • FAO and ITPS (2015) Status of the World’s Soil Resources (SWSR)—technical summary Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils. Rome, Italy

  • Fellet G, Marchiol L, Delle Vedove G, Peressotti A (2011) Application of biochar on mine tailings: effects and perspectives for land reclamation. Chemosphere 83(9):1262–1267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer D, Glaser B (2012) Synergisms between compost and biochar for sustainable soil amelioration. In: Sunil Kumar (ed) Management of organic waste, INTECH Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/management-of-organic-waste/synergism-between-biocharand-compost-for-sustainable-soil-amelioration

  • Friesl W, Friedl J, Platzer K, Horak O, Gerzabek MH (2006) Remediation of contaminated agricultural soils near a former Pb/Zn smelter in Austria: batch, pot and field experiments. Environ Pollut 144(1):40–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friesl W, Lombi E, Horak O, Wenzel WW (2003) Immobilization of heavy metals in soils using inorganic amendments in a greenhouse study. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 166(2):191–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horak O, Friesl W (2007) Soil additives immobilising heavy metals in contaminated soils. Nova Biotechnologica VII-I:5–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Houben D, Evrard L, Sonnet P (2013) Mobility, bioavailability and pH-dependent leaching of cadmium, zinc and lead in a contaminated soil amended with biochar. Chemosphere 92(11):1450–1457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IUSS Working Group WRB (2006) World reference base for soil resources 2006 World Soil Resources Reports No 103 Rome: FAO

  • Karami N, Clemente R, Moreno-Jiménez E, Lepp NW, Beesley L (2011) Efficiency of green waste compost and biochar soil amendments for reducing lead and copper mobility and uptake to ryegrass. J Hazard Mater 191(1–3):41–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karer J, Wawra A, Zehetner F, Dunst G, Wagner M, Pavel P-B, Puschenreiter M, Friesl-Hanl W, Soja G (2015) Effects of biochars and compost mixtures and inorganic additives on immobilisation of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 226(10)

  • Kargar M, Clark OG, Hendershot WH, Jutras P, Prasher SO (2015) Immobilization of trace metals in contaminated urban soil amended with compost and biochar. Water Air Soil Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2450-2

  • Laval-Gilly P, Henry S, Mazziotti M, Bonnefoy A, Comel A, Falla J (2017) Miscanthus × giganteus composition in metals and potassium after culture on polluted soil and its use as biofuel. BioEnergy Res 10 (3):846–852

  • Lehmann J, Joseph S (2015) Biochar for environmental management: an introduction. In: Lehmann J, Joseph S (eds) Biochar for environmental management-science and technology, 2nd edn. Routledge, Abingdon

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Chen H, Cai P, Liang W, Huang Q (2009) Immobilization and phytotoxicity of Cd in contaminated soil amended with chicken manure compost. J Hazard Mater 163(2–3):563–567

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mench M, Vangronsveld J, Bleeker P, Ruttens A, Geebelen W, Lepp, N (2006) Phytostabilisation of metal-contaminated sites. In: Phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4688-X_5

  • Park JH, Lamb D, Paneerselvam P, Choppala G, Bolan N, Chung J-W (2011) Role of organic amendments on enhanced bioremediation of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soils. J Hazard Mater 185(2–3):549–574

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavel P-B, Puschenreiter M, Wenzel WW, Diacu E, Barbu CH (2014) Aided phytostabilization using Miscanthus sinensis × giganteus on heavy metal-contaminated soils. Sci Total Environ 479-480:125–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Esteban J, Escolástico C, Masaguer A, Vargas C, Moliner A (2014) Soluble organic carbon and pH of organic amendments affect metal mobility and chemical speciation in mine soils. Chemosphere 103:164–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees F, Simonnot MO, Morel JL (2014) Short-term effects of biochar on soil heavy metal mobility are controlled by intra-particle diffusion and soil pH increase: heavy metal mobility in biochar-amended soils. Eur J Soil Sci 65(1):149–161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rizwan M, Ali S, Qayyum MF, Ibrahim M, Zia-ur-Rehman M, Abbas T, Ok YS (2016) Mechanisms of biochar-mediated alleviation of toxicity of trace elements in plants: a critical review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23(3):2230–2248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosikon K, Fijalkowski K, Kacprzak M (2015) Phytoremediation Potential of selected energetic plants (Miscanthus giganteus L and Phalaris arundinacea L) in dependence on fertilization. J Environ Sci Eng A. 10.17265/2162-5298/201511004

  • Sauerbeck D (1982) Welche schwermetallgehalte in pflanzen dürfen nicht überschritten werden, um wachstumsbeeinträchtigungen zu vermeiden? Landwirtsch Forsch 39:108–129

  • Schulz H, Glaser B (2012) Effects of biochar compared to organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil quality and plant growth in a greenhouse experiment. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 175(3):410–422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soja G, Wimmer B, Rosner F, Faber F, Dersch G, von Chamier J, Pardeller G, Ameur D, Keiblinger K, Zehetner F (2017) Compost and biochar interactions with copper immobilisation in copper-enriched vineyard soils. Appl Geochem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.06.004

  • Tang J, Zhu W, Kookana R, Katayama A (2013) Characteristics of biochar and its application in remediation of contaminated soil. J Biosci Bioeng 116(6):653–659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tica D, Udovic M, Lestan D (2011) Immobilization of potentially toxic metals using different soil amendments. Chemosphere 85(4):577–583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Touceda-González M, Brader G, Antonielli L, Ravindran VB, Waldner G, Friesl-Hanl W et al (2015) Combined amendment of immobilizers and the plant growth-promoting strain Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN favours plant growth and reduces heavy metal uptake. Soil Biol Biochem 91:140–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Zwieten L, Kimber S, Morris S, Chan KY, Downie A, Rust J et al (2009) Effects of biochar from slow pyrolysis of papermill waste on agronomic performance and soil fertility. Plant Soil 327(1–2):235–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker DJ, Clemente R, Roig A, Bernal MP (2003) The effects of soil amendments on heavy metal bioavailability in two contaminated Mediterranean soils. Environ Pollut 122(2):303–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wanat N, Austruy A, Joussein E, Soubrand M, Hitmi A, Gauthier-Moussard C, Lenain J-F, Vernay P, Munch JC, Pichon M (2013) Potentials of Miscanthus × giganteus grown on highly contaminated Technosols. J Geochem Explor 126–127:78–84

  • Wang M, Zhu Y, Cheng L, Andserson B, Zhao X, Wang D, Ding A (2017) Review on utilization of biochar for metal-contaminated soil and sediment remediation. J Environ Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2017.08.004

  • Yousaf B, Liu G, Wang R, Zia-ur-Rehman M, Rizwan MS, Imtiaz M et al (2016) Investigating the potential influence of biochar and traditional organic amendments on the bioavailability and transfer of Cd in the soil–plant system. Environ Earth Sci. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5285-2

  • Zeng F, Ali S, Zhang H, Ouyang Y, Qiu B, Wu F, Zhang G (2011) The influence of pH and organic matter content in paddy soil on heavy metal availability and their uptake by rice plants. Environ Pollut 159(1):84–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Wang H, He L, Lu K, Sarmah A, Li J et al (2013) Using biochar for remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20(12):8472–8483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (Bridge-Programme, FFG Project no. 836538). We thank Petronela-Bianca Pavel for her support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Environment Department, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria

    Jasmin Karer, Wolfgang Friesl-Hanl & Gerhard Soja

  2. Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria

    Franz Zehetner, Jakob Fessl & Markus Puschenreiter

  3. Sonnenerde Gerald Dunst Kulturerden GmbH, Oberwarterstrase 100, 7422, Riedlingsdorf, Austria

    Gerald Dunst

  4. Wagner Handelsgesellschaft, Kaiser Franz Josefstraße 6, 1230, Vienna, Austria

    Mario Wagner

  5. Department of Environmental Studies, University of Latvia, Raina Blvd. 19, Riga, 1586, Latvia

    Māra Stapkēviča

Authors
  1. Jasmin Karer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Franz Zehetner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gerald Dunst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jakob Fessl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mario Wagner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Markus Puschenreiter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Māra Stapkēviča
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Wolfgang Friesl-Hanl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Gerhard Soja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jasmin Karer.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Karer, J., Zehetner, F., Dunst, G. et al. Immobilisation of metals in a contaminated soil with biochar-compost mixtures and inorganic additives: 2-year greenhouse and field experiments. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 2506–2516 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0670-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0670-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation