Cadmium removal from Cd-contaminated soils using some natural and synthetic chelates for enhancing phytoextraction

The influence of a natural (citric acid) and two synthetic chelates (HEDTA, EGTA) on Cd phytoextraction with radish was studied. The experiment was conducted with Cd treatments including 0 (control), 5, 20, 60 and 100?mg?Cd?kg^?1 soil. When plants were fully developed, the designated HEDTA, EGTA and citric acid were applied to establish experimental treatments. Ten days after chelate applications, soil and plant samples were taken. Results indicated that synthetic chelates can considerably increase Cd concentration in soil solution compared with citric acid. Among the applied chelates, HEDTA provided more significant influences on soil solution. Cadmium concentration in both shoots and roots of radish was increased due to enhancing influence of chelate applications on Cd concentration in soil solution. Cadmium concentration in radish shoots was more than that of roots. This can be attributed to higher bioavailability and solubility of Cd in soil solution. In all treatments which received HEDTA, the cadmium concentration in both shoots and roots of radish was increased more than that of other applied chelates. Although HEDTA is more efficient in phytoextracting Cd than other chelates, due to durability of synthetic chelates toxic effects on soils, we recommend using larger amounts of light acids.     

Chelant-assisted pulse flushing of a field Pb-contaminated soil

Laboratory experiments on a lead-contaminated soil were carried out to test the effects of chelant addition on metal leachability using column tests. Tests were aimed at studying metal mobilisation upon application of two different chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA] and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid [EDDS]). Column operation was arranged to simulate a flushing treatment in which the chelating agent is applied in a pulse mode to the soil for one bed volume, while deionised water was continuously introduced for the rest of the experiment. Two different concentrations (3 and 5 mmol·kg ^?1 respectively) of the two chelating agents and a control solution (deionised water) were tested in separate experiments; pH, total organic carbon and the total concentrations of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd, Cu and Ni were monitored during each run. A seven-step sequential extraction procedure was used to evaluate metal partitioning and concentration in the contaminated soil after treatment as a function of depth. The results showed the effect of the nature of flushing solution on the hydraulic behaviour of the columns. Metal concentrations in the leachate increased considerably upon the application of chelants, thus indicating their suitability for metal extraction from contaminated soils. In view of full-scale application of soil flushing, particular concern should also be devoted to ensuring a homogeneous distribution of the solution within the contaminated area and an efficient collection of the exhausted extracting solution, as well as to recovering and recycling the chelating agent used.     

螯合剂对小麦幼苗吸收金属以及土壤金属形态的效应

本文通过盆栽试验研究三种螯合剂(EDTA、[S,S]-EDDS、DTPA)对小麦幼苗吸收土壤中重金属及其它微量元素的效应,并且通过改进的BCR连续提取法分析了种植后土壤样品中金属元素的形态。结果表明:EDTA、DTPA的添加导致小麦幼苗地上部分生物量以及叶片叶绿素a含量显著下降。螯合剂的存在明显增加了Pb和Mn在幼苗根部和茎叶的富集,并增加其由根部向茎叶的传输,但对Fe和Ni的作用比较小。小麦幼苗收获时,除Zn之外,其它元素酸溶/可交换态金属含量与对照组相比均有非常显著的增加,而各元素的可还原态由于EDTA等螯合剂的添加而有明显下降。添加螯合剂的情况下,富集量与酸溶/可交换态含量之间的相关系数大大提高,且各处理组茎叶富集量与酸溶/可交换态之间呈显著(P0.05)或极显著相关(P0.01)。因此,三种螯合剂的添加主要影响的是生物可利用形态以及潜在的生物可利用形态,并且可能导致可还原态以及可氧化态向酸溶/可交换态转变,增加金属的生物可利用性,从而也增加潜在生态风险。     

Spatial distribution of potentially bioavailable metals in surface soils of a contaminated sports ground in Galway, Ireland

Assessing the environmental risk of metal contamination in soils requires the determination of both total (TCs) and bioavailable (BCs) element concentrations. A total of 200 surface (0–10 cm) soil samples were collected from an urban sports ground (South Park) in Galway, Ireland, a former landfill and dumping site, which is currently under remediation. The potential BCs of metals were measured using ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) extraction followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry analysis, while the TCs were determined using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. It was found that Zn was primarily present in the insoluble residue (EDTA un-extractable) fraction in soils, with the median ratio of BCs/TCs 0.27. However, Pb and Cu had higher ratios of BCs/TCs (median values of 0.60 and 0.39, respectively) suggesting that they are potentially more bioavailable in the soils. The spatial distribution maps showed that both TCs and BCs for Cu, Pb and Zn in the study area were spatially heterogeneous. It was found that the BCs exhibited generally similar spatial patterns as their TCs of Cu, Pb and Zn: high values were mainly located in the west, north-east and south-east portions of the study area, where only a thin layer of topsoil existed. It was recommended that the current remediation action for this site needs to be carried out on an urgent basis.     

Mobilization of heavy metals from contaminated paddy soil by EDDS,EDTA, and elemental sulfur

For enhanced phytoextraction, mobilization of heavy metals (HMs) from the soil solid phase to soil pore water is an important process. A pot incubation experiment mimicking field conditions was conducted to investigate the performance of three soil additives in mobilizing HMs from contaminated paddy soil (Gleyi-Stagnic Anthrosol): the [S, S]-isomer of ethylenediamine disuccinate (EDDS) with application rates of 2.3, 4.3, and 11.8 mmol kg⁻¹ of soil, ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA; 1.4, 3.8, and 7.5 mmol kg⁻¹), and elemental sulfur (100, 200, and 400 mmol kg⁻¹). Temporal changes in soil pore water HM and dissolved organic carbon concentrations and pH were monitored for a period of 119 days. EDDS was the most effective additive in mobilizing soil Cu. However, EDDS was only effective during the first 24 to 52 days, and was readily biodegraded with a half-life of 4.1 to 8.7 days. The effectiveness of EDDS decreased at the highest application rate, most probably as a result of depletion of the readily desorbable Cu pool in soil. EDTA increased the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd in the soil pore water, and remained effective during the whole incubation period due to its persistence. The highest rate of sulfur application led to a decrease in pH to around 4. This increased the pore water HM concentrations, especially those of Zn and Cd. Concentrations of HMs in the soil pore water can be regulated to a large extent by choosing the proper application rate of EDDS, EDTA, or sulfur. Hence, a preliminary work such as our pot experiment in combination with further plant experiments (not included in this study) will provide a good tool to evaluate the applicability of different soil additives for enhanced phytoextraction of a specific soil.     

螯合剂和AM菌根对玉米吸收重金属及重金属化学形态的影响

通过温室根箱盆栽试验研究4种螯合剂EDTA、EDDS、AES和IDSA与AM菌根单一或联合对植物吸收重金属的影响,并通过改进的BCR三步法分析了玉米Zea mays L.菌根根际重金属的化学形态变化。AES和IDSA处理显著提高了玉米地上部重金属的吸收,对Cd、Cu的作用最为显著,Cd质量分数是对照的6.2倍和6.3倍,Cu质量分数是对照的21.8倍和7.7倍。AM＆amp;EDDS处理Cd的质量分数是EDDS处理的6.4倍,较单一AM处理增加了120.7%;AM＆amp;AES处理的Pb质量分数较之AES处理增加了71.5%,AM＆amp;IDSA较之IDSA处理亦增加了32.0%。AM＆amp;AES、AM＆amp;IDSA处理较之单一AM处理,Zn质量分数增加了134.1%和21.8%,Cu质量分数前者是后者的8.4倍和3.3倍,Pb质量分数前者是后者的11.9倍和8.7倍。添加螯合剂处理较之对照亦显著提高了玉米根部重金属的质量分数（P＆lt;0.05）,其中EDTA处理Pb质量分数是对照的5.0倍,AES和IDSA处理Cu质量分数增加了229.1%和131.0%。AM与螯合剂联合处理后,玉米根部Cd质量分数较之单一螯合剂处理降低,与地上部呈相反趋势;AM＆amp;EDDS处理较之EDDS处理,Zn质量分数增加了48.6%,AM＆amp;AES与AES处理对比亦增加了24.6%;AM＆amp;EDTA、AM＆amp;EDDS和AM＆amp;AES较之AM处理玉米根部Zn质量分数分别增加了70.0%、90.9%和51.3%,Cu质量分数前者是后者的2.6倍、1.8倍、4.0倍, Pb质量分数前者是后者的4.5倍、4.2倍和2.8倍。AM处理下根际土壤Zn、Cu、Pb结合态相对含量明显高于非根际。结果表明,新型螯合剂AES和IDSA对玉米地上部和根部重金属的吸收积累有较明显的促进作用;螯合剂和AM菌根联合提高了单一接种AM菌根或者添加螯合剂时玉米对重金属的吸收积累量,强化了植物提取的效果;AM菌根改变了根际土壤中重金属的形态,菌根的存在使得重金属的形态由松结合态向紧结合态转移,降低了重金属的生物有效性及过量重金属对宿主植物的毒害。     

Bioavailability,mobility, and toxicity of Cu in soils around the Dexing Cu mine in China

Total concentration is not a reliable indicator of Cu mobility or its bioavailability in soils. The chemical fraction determines the behavior of Cu in soils and hence its toxicity for terrestrial biota. We used the sequential extraction procedure and barley toxicity tests to examine the transfer of Cu in soils around the Dexing Cu mine and to make an ecological risk assessment of Cu in this area. The bioavailable Cu (exchangeable Cu and carbonate-bound Cu) in each soil profile did not change significantly with soil depth, indicating that the Cu itself was vertically mobile and thus potentially a higher risk to the environment. Cu toxicity and bioaccumulation in plants varied with the soil physicochemical characteristics [e.g., pH, clay content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC)] and the level of bioavailable Cu. Multiple regression analysis revealed that bioavailable Cu and CEC could be used to predict Cu toxicity to barley and that other characteristics (such as soil pH, clay content, or total organic carbon) did not predict the risk of toxicity as well as CEC. For the soil to be suitable for agriculture use, treatment of the local soil contamination with guest soil reclamation and phytoremediation with heavy metal-resistant plants would be necessary.     

Exposure Assessment of Naturally Metal Enriched Topsoils, Port Macquarie, Australia

An exposure assessment was conducted on naturally metal enriched topsoils of the city of Port Macquarie in order to establish whether the soils pose any threat to human health. Surface soils (0–10 cm depth, <2 mm) were investigated for their total, bioavailable and leachable Cr and Ni concentrations. Total metal concentrations ranged from 145 to 4540 mg Cr kg^–1 and 20 to 2030 mg Ni kg^–1, whereas soil extractions revealed low leachable contaminant concentrations (EDTA extraction: <0.1–0.2 mg Cr L^–1 and <0.1–4.7 mg Ni L^–1; acetic acid extraction: <0.1 mg L^–1 Cr and Ni). Thus the bioavailability of Cr and Ni to plants is low, the leaching of metals into ground and surface waters is insignificant and the pathways of these metal pollutants from topsoils into residents are limited to the inadvertent ingestion, inhalation and skin adsorption of soil metals. Simulated gastric experiments, using hydrochloric acid, indicated that less than 0.01% of the total Cr and 0.1–2.4% of the total Ni ingested are soluble and available, for uptake into the human body. Critical receptors, such as small children would have to ingest considerable soil quantities (> 11.8 g per day) over long periods of time to experience an appreciable risk of deleterious effects. Thus, although Cr and Ni are present in high concentrations, the effective uptake of Cr and Ni from soil by the majority of residents is insignificant. The possibility that the Ni enriched topsoil induces allergic contact dermatitis in sensitised individuals remains to be evaluated.     

植物吸收修复对土壤镍及其主要化学性质的影响

采用室内盆栽试验方法,研究了外源镍污染土壤的植物吸收修复对土壤镍形态和土壤主要化学性质的影响。试验用水稻土添加NiSO4·6H2O(100～1600mgkg-1)经过12周的驯化培养后,种植了镍超累积植物Alyssu mmurale,110 d后收获植物并进行了试验土壤镍的形态和主要化学性质的分析,采用再分配系数和结合强度系数对植物修复效果进行了定量分析。结果表明,根区土壤中DTPA提取态镍的数量明显减少,根区土壤DTPA-Ni与非根区土壤DTPA-Ni之比的范围在0.33～0.61之间。每盆植物提取镍量为6.61～31.18mg,植物提取量随着添加镍量增加而增加,地上部分最大镍含量达到12454.1mgkg-1。根区的再分配系数在2.17～4.19之间,而非根区的再分配系数在6.87～15.91之间,再分配系数随着镍添加量的增加而增大;根区的结合强度系数为0.84～0.39,而非根区的则为0.88～0.26,随着土壤中镍添加量的增加,结合强度系数逐渐减小。植物吸收修复后,根区土壤镍的再分配系数降低、结合强度系数增大,表明土壤镍各形态之间的稳定性增加,因此植物修复可以加快外源镍在土壤中的稳定。试验结果也表明,根区土壤中pH随着镍添加量的增加呈下降趋势、但较非根区土壤的高;根区土壤有机碳亦较非根区的高。     

The effect of application time of mobilising agents on growth and phytoextraction of lead by Brassica napus from a calcareous mine soil

Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated sites is often limited by the low-bioavailability of the contaminants. Complexing agents can help to improve this technique by enhancing heavy metal solubility. Pot experiments were conducted to determine the best time for the application of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sheep manure extract (SME) for phytoremediation of a contaminated soil by Brassica napus. The plant was grown on a mine calcareous soil treated with increasing concentrations of EDTA or SME 30 and 10?days before sowing (T1 and T2) and 10 and 30?days after sowing (T3 and T4). Soil available Pb and lead concentrations in plant organs of Brassica napus increased with EDTA concentration. The EDTA application before seed germination significantly reduced rapeseed seedling emergence and dry weight. However, the actual amount of phytoextracted Pb by rapeseed did not decrease significantly, due to severe growth depression, at high EDTA concentrations when it had applied at a suitable time (T4). SME application after sowing increased plant dry weight and Pb concentration in the soil solution and enhanced the accumulated metal concentrations in shoots and roots. Comparing the effect of EDTA and SME on Pb phytoextraction, the study showed that SME is not more effective than EDTA. The efficiency of EDTA on Pb phytoextraction by Brassica napus depends on the time of application. The most efficient treatment for Pb phytoextraction by rapeseed was application of 2?g EDTA/kg soil at T4.     

Trace metals in the coastal soils developed from estuarine floodplain sediments in the Croatian Mediterranean region

Fertile soils in the River Neretva estuary were developed by fluvial sedimentation and deposition of the eroded soil material from the karst hills within the catchment. After extensive reclamation, two reclaimed land zones (fluvial terraces and lower-laying terraces) have been delineated, both used for agriculture. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate soil chemical and geochemical properties in reclaimed zones that differ mainly in topography, soil types and agricultural land use. The origin of the trace metals in the arable soils was studied using multivariate statistics, and interpolation maps of trace metals were produced using GIS and geostatistics. Soil trace metal concentrations do not exceed a threshold value established by the Croatian Government regulation, with exception of copper. Comparative analysis of the main soil properties and trace metal concentrations in the study area showed a pronounced spatial variation and differences between two reclaimed zones in soil organic matter content, bioavailable P and total concentrations of Cd and Cu. Factor analysis in the area of the lower-laying terraces showed grouping of bioavailable P and K, organic matter content and pH (negative loading) in the component associated mostly with the land use. In the area of the fluvial terraces, bioavailable P and total Cd were grouped in the same component that may be explained by the traditional small farm agriculture and overuse of mineral fertilizers. In the whole study area, processes of secondary salinization were determined, accompanied by the raised chloride and sodium concentration measured in the saturation soil extract.     

微胶囊EDTA对2种土壤中铅释放的影响

选用不同铅污染程度及pH值的土壤,采用连续批浸提实验和土柱淋溶实验,比较研究微胶囊EDTA（Cap-EDTA）和未微胶囊化EDTA（Ncap-EDTA）对不同土壤溶液中pH值和铅离子浓度动态变化影响,以及土壤渗滤液中铅离子淋失特征。结果表明：施加2种不同形式的EDTA,可极显著地增加土壤溶液中铅离子浓度,Cap-EDTA能控制土壤溶液中铅浓度的突增幅度,且使土壤溶液中的铅持续保持在适度浓度的时间更长。同一种土壤不同处理间土壤pH值的变化趋势基本一致,无显著差异。施用2种不同形式EDTA可极显著地增加土壤渗滤液中铅离子含量,土壤铅累积淋失量呈对数曲线上升,但施用Cap-EDTA处理能显著降低土壤中铅的初始淋失量和淋失总量。在相同浓度及形式的EDTA下,高铅浓度和高pH值的土壤铅更易活化和淋失。因此,在进行污染土壤植物修复的EDTA调控时,采用微胶囊化EDTA,能降低其带来的污染地下水风险。     

Interrelation of Cd‐lon concentrations and the growth and activities of microorganisms in two growth media†

Partitioning of native or anthropogenic heavy metals in solid and solution phases of soil is a result of network of several physico‐chemical reactions. The attainment of equilibrium between two phases is also regulated by biochemical processes. For practical purposes, the bioavailability of metal present in soil is predominantly regulated by the soil solution phase which is in dynamic equilibrium with the solid phase. The results of a model laboratory and greenhouse growth experiments have been used to investigate the effect of Cd‐ion concentrations (either in soil solution or in nutrient solution) on the growth and activities of microorganisms. The soil solution has been simulated by preparing a suspension of soil with 0.1 M NaNO₃ (1: 2.5) equilibrated for two hours. Important conclusions are as follows:

Increase in Cd‐ion concentration in soil solution or in nutrient solution induces corresponding adverse effect on the growth and activities of microorganisms. Thus, it seems that Cd‐ion concentration is a more sensitive indicator for assessing the effect of metal pollution upon the growth and activities of soil microorganisms in comparison to total Cd contents.

During active microbial growth phase, a large part of the organically bound Cd was released in the soil solution which is largely bioavailable. This process is termed as mobilisation. There was momentary increase of Cd‐ion concentration in soil solution which intoxicated the growing organisms. After this stage, the Cd ions from the solution phase were removed by the newly formed solid phase (nonviable biomass) and were transformed in non‐available form. This process is termed as immobilisation.

The consequences and importance of these results for practical agriculture and in deciding the limits or guidelines on the maximum tolerable metal load in soils are discussed.     

湘南某矿区菜园土中典型重金属的形态分析

分别运用Tessier连续提取法和Leleyter连续提取法研究湘南某矿区菜园土中Pb,Zn,Cu和Cd的形态分布特征.结果表明：菜园土中Pb,Zn,Cu和Cd的总浓度严重超过国家土壤环境质量标准.Pb,Zn,Cu和Cd的主要形态是残渣态,水溶态和交换态所占比例较小.重金属生物可利用性的研究表明,Pb,Zn,Cu和Cd生物可利用的含量较少;在Tessier方法中,除Cu之外,生物不可利用态是主要形态,其次是潜在生物可利用态,而在Leleyter方法中,潜在生物可利用态是主要形态,其次是生物不可利用态.     

Trace elements in wild grasses: a phytoavailability study on a remediated field

There have been significant efforts to establish a widely usable method for the prediction of trace element bioavailability in soil. In this work, we used extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 0.05 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to estimate bioavailable concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in a soil moderately contaminated with trace elements 1 and 2 years after the application of three amendments. The experiment took place in a field plot of a soil affected by the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine. Four treatments were established: three with amendments (biosolid compost, sugar beet lime, and a combination of leonardite plus sugar beet lime) and a control without amendment. Trace element concentrations of two representative species in each year (Lamarckia aurea and Poa annua in 2004 and Lamarckia aurea and Bromus rubens in 2005) were analyzed. The results showed a positive effect of the amendments both on soil and vegetation. Trace element concentrations in plants growing in the amended subplots were lower than those in plants from nonamended subplots. As a rule, concentrations of CaCl₂-soluble Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil were positively correlated with trace elements in plants, whereas EDTA extraction was scarcely correlated with plant concentration. For species of grasses, especially L. aurea, CaCl₂ seems to be a more suitable extractant to predict trace element bioavailability in this contaminated soil.     

Influence of soil-extractable aluminium and pH on the uptake of aluminium from soil into the soybean plant (Glycine max)

The effects of soil pH and other soil properties on the uptake of AI by soybean plants have been investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Six soils were compared that were developed over six contrasting bedrock types ranging widely in their AI content and other chemical and physical characteristics, namely Oxford Clay, Chalk, Lower Lias Clay, Devonian Shale, Granite and Lower Greensand. Soil pH varied naturally between soil types and each soil was also amended to give two other pH levels using elemental sulphur and/or calcium carbonate. AI concentrations in various parts of the soybean plants were determined by ICP-AES after acid digestion. The AI solubility in the soils and hence its availability to the plants was estimated using a number of different reagents designed to extract different forms of AI. The AI concentration measured in the soybean leaves was found to be predicted most accurately by the ‘available’ AI extracted from soils by 0.02 M CaCl₂. The relationship appears to the linear, with a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (p <0.01). The AI content of the leaves increases with decreasing soil pH. The relationship is non-linear with a marked increase in leaf AI for soils with pH <4.4. The amounts of ‘plant-available’ AI in the soils extracted with 0.02 M CaCl₂ was much less than that extracted with 0.05 M EDTA, although both increased markedly with decreasing soil pH. The amount of AI measured in the soybean plants was directly related to both the ‘available’ forms of AI in the soils, and also to the pH of the soils. Soil pH was identified as a major factor that controls the uptake of Al from soil into the soybean plant.     

Release of mobile forms of hazardous elements from glassworks fly ash into soils

The release of hazardous elements from the wastes of high-temperature processes represents a risk to the environment. We focused on the alteration of fly ash (FA) from glassworks collected from an electrostatic filter. FA contains elevated concentrations of Zn and Ba, among other elements. Overtime, small amounts of FA have been emitted from the factory and settled into the surrounding environment (soil). In order to assess the possible risks to the environment, samples of FA were placed in small nylon bags and deposited in 11 different soil horizons (containing diverse vegetation cover such as spruce and beech and also unforested areas). Samples of the FA in bags were exposed in the soils for 1 year. Then, the bags were collected, and the exposed soils in the direct vicinity of the FA bags were sampled. The total concentrations of Zn and Ba in the FA, as well as in the soil samples (original and exposed), were determined by ICP MS. The “mobile fraction” was determined as the exchangeable (acid extractable) fraction of the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure (SEP). The SEP results indicate that Zn and Ba may pose a potential environmental risk. Their concentrations in the first, most mobile, and bioavailable fraction increased in all the exposed soils. The most significant increases were observed in the upper soil horizons (litter and A horizon). The risk to the environment was evaluated on the basis of the Risk Assessment Code.     

Evaluation of tests to assess the quality of mine-contaminated soils

An acid metal-contaminated soil from the Aljustrel mining area (a pyrite mine located in SW Portugal in the Iberian Pyrite Belt) was subjected to chemical characterisation and total metal quantification (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn). Water-soluble metals were determined and a sequential extraction procedure was used to investigate metal speciation. Two bioavailable metal fractions were determined: a mobile fraction and a mobilisable fraction. Soil ecotoxicity was studied using a battery of bioassays: plant growth test and seed germination with cress (Lepidium sativum L.), earthworm (Eisenia fetida) mortality, E. fetida avoidance behaviour, luminescent inhibition of Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna immobilisation. Although the total content of Cu, Zn and Pb in the soil was large (362, 245 and 1,250 mg/kg dry matter, respectively), these metals were mostly structurally bound (87% for Cu, 81% for Zn and 89% for Pb) and, therefore, scarcely bioavailable. Nonetheless, the D. magna immobilization test using soil leachate showed an EC₅₀ (48 h) of 36.3% (v/v), and the luminescent inhibition of V. fischeri presented an EC₂₀ (15 min) of 45.2% and an EC₂₀ (30 min) of 10.7% (v/v), suggesting a considerable toxic effect. In the direct exposure bioassays, E. fetida avoided the mine soil at the highest concentrations (50%, 75% and 100% v/v). At the same soil concentrations, cress showed negligible growth. The results suggest the need to use a battery of toxicity tests, in conjunction with chemical methods, in order to assess the quality of mine-contaminated soils correctly.     

EDTA-assisted phytoextraction of lead from lead-contaminated soils by Echinochloa crusgalli var. frumentacea

The herbaceous plant Echinochloa crusgalli var. frumentacea is highly resistant to a wide range of heavy metal concentrations. In this study we tested the phytoextraction capacity of E. crusgalli var. frumentacea. Specifically, we compared the effect of EDTA on lead (Pb) accumulation in two groups of plants: those sown in lead contaminated soil and those transplanted to the contaminated soil as seedlings. The result of the time development of the Pb concentrations in the plants in the seedling and seed groups shows that for the seedling group, the effect of adding EDTA to the Pb-contaminated soil was even more pronounced in the shoots than the roots, which showed Pb concentrations 32-fold higher. Compared to the seedling group, the Pb concentrations in the roots of plants in the seed group were approximately 5 times higher in controls and 2 to 10 times higher in the presence of EDTA. Collectively, these results might be considered that EDTA elevates the bioavailability of Pb in soil and this native species is particularly suited to use in Pb phytoextraction.     

Application of eggshell waste for the immobilization of cadmium and lead in a contaminated soil

Liming materials have been used to immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soils. However, no studies have evaluated the use of eggshell waste as a source of calcium carbonate (CaCO?) to immobilize both cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in soils. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of eggshell waste on the immobilization of Cd and Pb and to determine the metal availability following various single extraction techniques. Incubation experiments were conducted by mixing 0-5% powdered eggshell waste and curing the soil (1,246 mg Pb kg?1 soil and 17 mg Cd kg?1 soil) for 30 days. Five extractants, 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl?), 1 M CaCl?, 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl), 0.43 M acetic acid (CH?COOH), and 0.05 M ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), were used to determine the extractability of Cd and Pb following treatments with CaCO? and eggshell waste. Generally, the extractability of Cd and Pb in the soils decreased in response to treatments with CaCO? and eggshell waste, regardless of extractant. Using CaCl? extraction, the lowest Cd concentration was achieved upon both CaCO? and eggshell waste treatments, while the lowest Pb concentration was observed using HCl extraction. The highest amount of immobilized Cd and Pb was extracted by CH?COOH or EDTA in soils treated with CaCO? and eggshell waste, indicating that remobilization of Cd and Pb may occur under acidic conditions. Based on the findings obtained, eggshell waste can be used as an alternative to CaCO? for the immobilization of heavy metals in soils.