Surfactants in sludge-amended agricultural soils: a review

Surfactants are included in different detergent formulations and are one of the most ubiquitous and important families of organic compounds. Although the generic term applies to a great number of products, 80% of their demand is covered by only ten types of compounds. The global surfactant market volume size is more than 18 million tons per year. Large quantities of surfactants are continuously released into the environment, where they can or cannot be degraded depending on their structure. The alkylbenzenesulphonate (LAS) is the most widely used surfactant. LAS can be degraded under aerobic conditions but is persistent in the environment under anaerobic conditions. Surfactants may enter the terrestrial environment through several routes, with the use of sewage sludge as fertiliser on agricultural land being by far the most important. High concentrations of surfactants and their degradation products may affect the biota. On the other hand, due to their amphiphilic nature, surfactants may interact both with inorganic as well as organic contaminants affecting their bioavailability.     

Pollutant decontamination by polyethyleneimine-engineered agricultural waste materials: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The direct discharge of untreated contaminants into global water systems has jeopardized our water security worldwide. This environmental concern has prompted...     

Utilization of banana agricultural waste: production of cellulases by soil fungi

Banana a major cash crop of Maharashtra is cultivated over 46900 hectares generating large amount of agro waste after the harvest. Attempts were made to utilize these agro wastes for production of cellulases. Of the 127 fungi isolated from the soil of banana field, 12 fungi were found to utilize cellulose as source of carbon. Trichoderma lignorum showed appreciable cellulolytic activity. It produced Cl, Cx and beta glucosidase in Carboxymethyl Cellulose Peptone medium as well as on agro waste based medium containing leaves, stem and rhizome powders. T. lignorum (0. 45 U/ml) produced maximum enzymes on leaf based medium.     

Nutrients can enhance phytoremediation of copper-polluted soil by Indian mustard

An orthogonally designed experiment was conducted to study the single and combined effects of N, P and K on phytoremediation of Cu-polluted soil by Indian mustard. Addition of fertilizer N and P significantly increased Indian mustard shoot yield. Two high treatments combined with N resulted in the highest yields, followed by low-P combined with N. In contrast, high P with no N gave no yield increase and K had no effect on yield of Indian mustard. Nitrogen and P increased the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, indicating that the yield increases were due to enhanced photosynthesis. Nitrogen application had no effect on plant Cu concentrations but addition of P slightly decreased plant Cu concentrations, likely a dilution effect resulting from the increase in yield. Among the treatments, N and P applied at 100 and 200 mg kg(-1) respectively with no K application resulted in the highest Cu uptake. Thus, a combination of low N and high P produced a yield increase in Indian mustard that was more than adequate to compensate for a slight decrease in Cu concentration, resulting in the highest Cu removal from the contaminated soil.     

Chemical changes in agricultural soils of Korea: data review and suggested countermeasures

The monitoring of chemical properties, including heavy metals, in soils is necessary if better management and remediation practices are to be established for polluted soils. The National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology initiated a monitoring study that investigated fertility and heavy metal contents of the benchmarked soils. The study covered paddy soils, upland soils, and horticultural soils in the plastic film houses, and orchard soils throughout the Korea from 1990 to 1998. Likewise, 4047 samples of paddy and 2534 samples of plastic house in 1999 and 2000 were analyzed through the Soil Environment Conservation Act. Soil chemical properties such as pH, organic matter, available phosphate and extractable calcium, magnesium and potassium contents, and heavy metal contents such as cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, mercury, and cobalt contents were analyzed. The study showed that the average contents of organic matter, available phosphate, and extractable potassium rapidly increased in plastic house soils than in upland or paddy soils. Two kinds of fertilizer recommendation systems were established for the study: the standard levels by national soil average data for 77 crops and the recommendation by soil test for 70 crops. Standard nitrogen fertilizer application levels for cereal crops changed from 94 kg/ha in 1960s, 99 kg/ha in 1970s, 110 kg/ha in 1980s to 90 kg/ha in 1990s. The K2O-fertilizer also changed from 67 kg/ha in 1960s, 76 kg/ha in 1970s, 92 kg/ha in 1980s, and only 44 kg/ha in 1990s. In rice paddy fields, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in surface soils (0-15 cm depth) were 0.11 mg kg(-1) (ranged from 0 to 1.01), 4.70 mg kg(-1) (0-41.59), 4.84 mg kg(-1) (0-66.44), and 4.47 mg kg(-1) (0-96.70), respectively. In the uplands, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As in surface soils (0-15 cm depth) were 0.135 mg kg(-1) (ranged from 0 to 0.660), 2.77 mg kg(-1) (0.07-78.24), 3.47 mg kg(-1) (0-43.00), 10.70 mg kg(-1) (0.30-65.10), and 0.57 mg kg(-1) (0.21-2.90), respectively. In plastic film houses, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As in surface soil were 0.12 mg kg(-1) (ranging from 0 to 1.28), 4.82 mg kg(-1) (0-46.50), 2.68 mg kg(-1) (0-46.50), 31.19 mg kg(-1) (0.19-252.0), and 0.36 mg kg(-1) (0-4.98), respectively. In orchard fields, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Hg in surface soils (0-20 cm depth) were 0.11 mg kg(-1) (ranged from 0-0.49), 3.62 mg kg(-1) (0.03-45.30), 2.30 mg kg(-1) (0-27.80), 16.60 mg kg(-1) (0.33-105.50), 0.44 mg kg(-1) (0-4.14), and 0.05 mg kg(-1) (0.01-0.54), respectively. For polluted soils with over the warning content levels of heavy metals, fine red earth application, land reconsolidation and soil amelioration such as lime, phosphate, organic manure, and submerging were recommended. For the countermeasure areas, cultivation of non-edible crops such as garden trees, flowers, and fiber crops; land reformation; and heavy application of fine red earth (up to 30 cm) were strongly recommended. Land use techniques should be changed to be harmonious with the environment to increase yield and income. Soil function characteristics should be taken into account.     

生物黑炭输入对茶园土壤呼吸的影响

生物黑炭是化石燃料或生物质不完全燃烧产生的一种非纯净碳的混合物,施入土壤后能有效减少温室气体排放、改良土壤性状、促进植物生长,但生物黑炭施用对土壤碳排放的影响仍存在不确定性。茶园是我国南方地区主要土地利用类型之一,为明确生物黑炭输入对茶园土壤碳排放的影响,本文采用田间试验研究生物黑炭施用对茶园土壤呼吸的影响。试验设置生物黑炭施用量0 t·hm^-2（CK）、8 t·hm^-2、16 t·hm^-2、32 t·hm^-2和64 t·hm^-25个水平,采用LI-Cor8100开路式土壤碳通量测定系统对不同生物黑炭施用水平处理下茶园土壤呼吸速率进行长期定位观测。结果表明,茶园土壤呼吸速率的季节变化规律呈现单峰曲线特征,最高值出现在8月份,最低值出现在1月份;土壤呼吸速率与土壤10 cm温度呈极显著的指数相关关系,土壤10 cm温度能够解释各处理土壤呼吸月动态变化的67.79%-89.16%。生物黑炭输入提高了茶园土壤呼吸速率,各处理年平均土壤呼吸速率分别比CK提高10.75%、17.52%、35.78%和42.58%,并与CK差异达显著水平（p〈0.05）;生物黑炭输入降低了茶园土壤呼吸敏感性（Q10值）,各处理土壤呼吸Q10值分别比CK降低1.96%、3.14%、4.01%和10.76%。土壤呼吸温度敏感性的降低验证了生物黑炭具有热稳定性和生物学稳定性,是可以在茶园土壤中长期固存的惰性有机碳。     

南方茶园红壤施用PAM对土壤理化性质和茶叶安全的影响

传统的水土保持措施在坡地茶园上应用比较困难,而利用聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）来防治茶园土壤侵蚀的适宜性还有待研究。因此,在铁观音（Camellia sinensis）茶园设置6个不同PAM施用量的小区（0、2、4、6、8、10 g·m-2）,并采集春、夏、秋3个收获季节的土壤和茶叶样品,通过分析茶园土壤理化性质和茶叶中丙烯酰胺残留来评价PAM对土壤理化性质和茶叶安全品质的影响。结果表明：与对照小区相比,土壤容重在低PAM施用浓度小区中发生降低,土壤有机质在不同季节的各PAM处理之间差异不显著,而土壤速效磷、碱解氮和速效钾在3个收获季节中的流失下降明显,其中施用2 g·m-2 PAM的小区其土壤速效磷、碱解氮和速效钾含量最高。每个PAM处理的茶叶样品和土壤样品中单体丙烯酰胺的残留量分别为0.011~0.095μg·L-1和0.008~0.036μg·L-1,均远低于丙烯酰胺安全限值0.5μg·L-1。文章认为红壤茶园施用PAM不仅可以保持土壤肥力,而且对茶叶生产也是安全的。施用PAM是一种适宜的防治红壤茶园土壤侵蚀的水保措施,且最佳用量为2 g·m-2。     

一株高效解磷细菌的紫外诱变选育及其在红壤稻田施用效果

红壤对磷有强大吸附固定力,磷肥易被土壤中活性铁、铝固定而使有效态磷转化为各种形态的非有效磷,从而大大降低磷肥的利用率。解磷菌能使土壤中难溶性或不溶性的磷转化为易于被植物吸收利用的磷。通过对江西鹰潭红壤分离筛选并经过紫外诱变获得一株性状稳定的高效解磷细菌Y8。经鉴定,菌株Y8为蜡状芽孢杆菌（Bacillus cereus）。通过与生产中应用的徐州华龙高效复合菌肥厂的解磷细菌X3相比,菌株Y8降解有机磷、溶解Ca3（PO4）2的能力均比较高,分别为155.3mg·L^-1和240.1mg·L^-1。研究各种理化因子对菌株Y8解磷能力的影响,确定了菌株Y8的最佳培养条件为葡萄糖20g·L^-1、NH4（SO4）21.5g·L^-1、pH7.0、温度为35℃,在该条件下菌株Y8溶解Ca3（PO4）2的量为295.6mg·L^-1。在江西鹰潭红壤稻田的施用试验表明,将菌株Y8制成微生物菌剂施用于水稻田可起到减施化肥的作用。     

Correction to: Determining soil quality in urban agricultural regions by soil enzyme-based index

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Unfortunately, in the original publication of the article, Prof. Yang Sik Ok’s affiliation was incorrectly published. The author’s affiliation is...     

Hydrogen production by catalytic aqueous-phase reforming of waste biomass: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rising adverse effects of climate change call for a rapid shift to low-carbon energy and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. For that, biorefineries...     

Phosphates for Pb immobilization in soils: a review

In its soluble ionic forms, lead (Pb) is a toxic element occurring in waters and soils mainly as the result of human activities. The bioavailability of lead ions can be decreased by complexation with various materials in order to decrease their toxicity. Pb chemical immobilization using phosphate addition is a widely accepted technique to immobilize Pb from aqueous solution and contaminated soils. The application of different P amendments cause Pb in soils to shift from forms with high availability to the most strongly bound Pb fractions. The increase of Pb in the residual or insoluble fraction results from formation of pyromorphite Pb₅(PO₄)₃X where X = F, Cl, Br, OH, the most stable environmental Pb compounds under a wide range of pH and Eh natural conditions. Accidental pyromorphite ingestion does not yield bioavailable lead, because pyromorphite is insoluble in the intestinal tract. Numerous natural and synthetic phosphates materials have been used to immobilize Pb: apatite and hydroxyapatite, biological apatite, rock phosphate, soluble phosphate fertilizers such as monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, phosphoric acid, biosolids rich in P, phosphatic clay and mixtures. The identification of pyromorphite in phosphate amended soils has been carried out by different non destructive techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray absorption fine structure, transmission electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The effectiveness of in situ Pb immobilization has also been evaluated by selective sequential extraction, by the toxicity leaching procedure and by a physiologically based extraction procedure simulating metal ingestion and gastrointestinal bioavailability to humans. Efficient Pb immobilization using P amendments requires increasing the solubility of the phosphate phase and of the Pb species phase by inducing acid conditions. Although phosphorus addition seems to be highly effective, excess P in soil and its potential effect on eutrophication of surface water, and the possibility of As enhanced leaching remains a concern. The use of mixed treatments may be a useful strategy to improve their effectiveness in reducing lead phyto- and bioavailability.     

Cadmium contamination in agricultural soils of Bangladesh and management by application of organic amendments: evaluation of field assessment and pot experiments

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - In recent years, cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils and its subsequent transfer to crops is one of the high-priority environmental and public...     

Role of mushrooms in soil mycoremediation:a review

Bioremediation is an innovative and promising technology available for the removal and recovery of heavy metals from contaminated media. Bioremediation uses organisms to absorb heavy metals at low cost and with no secondary pollution. Bioremediation by macrofungi that degrade pollutants or wastes is referred to as mycoremediation. Macrofungi, like mushrooms, can produce enzymes and have the ability to degrade and accumulate a wide range of toxic metals. In this paper, the research status and advances in the field of mycoremediation using different mushroom species are reviewed. Generally mushrooms use three effective strategies to recover contaminated or polluted soils: biodegradation, bioconversion, and biosorption. Mushrooms can degrade and recycle wastes and pollutants to their mineral constituents and convert wastes, sludge, and pollutants into useful forms. In addition, they can uptake heavy metals from substrates via biosorption, which is a very effective method to reclaim polluted lands. Different wild and cultivated mushroom species are used in mycoremediation, which can degrade large quantities of organic and inorganic pollutants and produce vendible products. Mycoremediation is still in its infancy, but it has notable remediation potential for pollutants or metals in soil. Mushroom species that can biodegrade, bioconvert, or absorb pollutants and metals effectively should be given the highest preference. Further research is needed to verify that this method is an easy, cost effective,and eco-friendly tool.     

Atrazine contamination in agricultural soils from the Yangtze River Delta of China and associated health risks

Atrazine is one of the most widely applied and persistent herbicides in the world. In view of limited information on the regional contamination of atrazine in soils in China, this study investigated the spatial distribution and environmental impacts of atrazine in agricultural soils collected from the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) as an illustrative analysis of rapidly developing regions in the country. The results showed that the concentrations of atrazine in the YRD agricultural soils ranged from <1.0 to 113 ng/g dry weight, with a mean of 5.7 ng/g, and a detection rate of 57.7 % in soils. Pesticide factory might be a major source for the elevated levels of atrazine in Zhejiang Province. The contamination of atrazine was closely associated with land use types. The concentrations and detection rates of atrazine were higher in corn fields and mulberry fields than in rice paddy fields. There was no significant difference in compositions of soil microbial phospholipids fatty acids among the areas with different atrazine levels. Positive relationship (R = 0.417, p < 0.05, n = 30) was observed between atrazine and total microbial biomass. However, other factors, such as soil type and land management practice, might have stronger influences on soil microbial communities. Human health risks via exposure to atrazine in soils were estimated according to the methods recommended by the US EPA. Atrazine by itself in all the soil samples imposed very low carcinogenic risks (<10^?6) and minimal non-cancer risks (hazard index <1) to adults and children.     

Accumulation and fate of microplastics in soils after application of biosolids on land: A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The recent discovery of microplastic occurrence in most ecosystems is raising health concerns globally, yet the fate of microplastics is poorly known, particularly...     

Long-term assessment of the environmental fate of heavy metals in agricultural soil after cessation of organic waste treatments

The current study examined the anthropogenic accumulation and natural decrease in metal concentrations in agricultural soils following organic waste application. Three common organic wastes, including municipal sewage sludge, alcohol fermentation processing sludge, and pig manure compost (PMC), were applied annually to an agricultural soil under field conditions over 7 years (1994–2000) at a rate of 12.5, 25, and 50 ton ha^?1 year^?1 and the soil accumulation of three metals of concern (Cu, Pb, and Zn) was monitored. Subsequently, organic waste amendments ceased and the experimental plots were managed using conventional fertilization for another 10 years (2001–2010) and the natural decrease in metal concentrations monitored. Although Cu and Zn concentrations in all experimental plots did not exceed the relevant guideline values (150 mg kg^?1 for Cu and 300 mg kg^?1 for Zn), significant increases in metal concentrations were observed from cumulative application of organic wastes over 7 years. For instance, PMC treatment resulted in an increase in Cu and Zn from 9.8 and 72 mg kg^?1 to 108.2 and 214.3 mg kg^?1, respectively. In addition, the natural decrease in Cu and Zn was not significant as soils amended with PMC showed only a 16 and 19 % decline in Cu and Zn concentrations, respectively, even 10 years after amendment ceased. This research suggested that more attention must be paid during production of organic waste-based amendments and at the application stage.     

Anaerobic digestion and recycling of kitchen waste: a review

About 1.6 billion tons of food are wasted worldwide annually, calling for advanced methods to recycle food waste into energy and materials. Anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste allows the efficient recovery of energy, and induces low-carbon emissions. Nonetheless, digestion stability and biogas production are variables, due to dietary habits and seasonal diet variations that modify the components of kitchen waste. Another challenge is the recycling of the digestate, which could be partly solved by more efficient reactors of anaerobic digestion. Here, we review the bottlenecks of anaerobic digestion treatment of kitchen waste, with focus on components inhibition, and energy recovery from biogas slurry and residue. We provide rules for the optimal treatment of the organic fraction of kitchen waste, and guidelines to upgrade the anaerobic digestion processes. We propose a strategy using an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor to improve anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste, and a model for the complete transformation and recycling of kitchen waste, based on component properties.

     

Electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate waste into ammonia: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate waste into ammonia allows both the removal of nitrate contaminants and an alternative production of ammonia compared to...     

Impact of waste of COVID-19 protective equipment on the environment,animals and human health: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and shields, has become mandatory to prevent person-to-person...     

Artificial intelligence for waste management in smart cities: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rising amount of waste generated worldwide is inducing issues of pollution, waste management, and recycling, calling for new strategies to improve the waste...