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Biochar amendment immobilizes arsenic in farmland and reduces its bioavailability

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine effects of biochar derived from wheat straw at 500 °C on arsenic immobilization in a soil-Brassica campestris L system. When the soils amended with 4% modified biochar (MBC), 0.5% Fe grit as zero-valent iron (ZVI), 0.5% Fe grit + 4% MBC (ZMBC), 0.5% ZVI + 4% biochar (ZBC), 4% biochar (BC), and control (without amendments), it confirmed that available arsenic concentration in soils occurred in the following order: ZMBC < MBC < ZVI < ZBC < Control < BC. Water-soluble As (WSAs) was reduced by 89.74% and 92.30% in MBC- and ZMBC-amended soils, respectively, compared to the control. When MBC applied into soil, As uptake of shoot and root decreased by 44.55% and 45.40%, respectively, and ZMBC resulted in 74.92% and 71.80% reduction in shoot and root As of Brassica campestris L. Immobilization effect of As in ZBC was also observed though BC elevated plant As uptake significantly. The immobilization effect of MBC was mainly attributed to Fe2O3 impregnation illustrated by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images through sorption, precipitation, and coprecipitation. Such Fe containing complexes might impede As translocation from root to shoot and subsequently reduce As accumulation in the plant with modified biochar amendment.

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Funding

This study received support from the National Twelve-Five Year Science and Technology Support Program of China (2015BAD05B01) and the Science and Technology Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2016–2020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of China

    Lianfang Li, Changxiong Zhu, Xiaoshi Liu, Feng Li, Hongna Li & Jing Ye

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  1. Lianfang Li
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  2. Changxiong Zhu
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  3. Xiaoshi Liu
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  4. Feng Li
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  5. Hongna Li
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Correspondence to Lianfang Li.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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1. This study revealed that the inhibition of As uptake by Brassica campestris L. after amended with modified biochar singly and the complex with zero-valent iron.

2. The available As and water-soluble As in soils all decreased in MBC and ZMBC, while BC induced the improvement of As availability.

3. Modified biochar was effective at reducing As bioavailability, and immobilization effect of As in MBC can be strengthened by Fe(0), indicating potential for remediation of As-contaminated soil.

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Li, L., Zhu, C., Liu, X. et al. Biochar amendment immobilizes arsenic in farmland and reduces its bioavailability. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 34091–34102 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3021-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3021-z

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