An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Sorbents in the Remediation of Soil Contaminated with Zinc

Abstract

Zinc exerts negative effects on soil and contributing to the degradation of soil ecosystems. New solutions for restoring healthy soil activity are therefore needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sorbents in the biological remediation of soil contaminated with zinc. A pot experiment was conducted on loamy sand. The tested plant was maize (Zea mays). Soil was contaminated with zinc chloride doses of 0, 100, 300, and 900 mg Zn2+ kg−1 DM soil (dry matter of soil). Alginate, biochar, sepiolite, calcined halloysite, and a molecular sieve were added to soil in amounts corresponding to 2.5% of soil weight to minimize zinc’s potentially toxic effects on the biological properties of soil. The application of zinc stimulated the proliferation of all analyzed microbial groups. Zinc exerted negative effects on the ecophysiological diversity (EP) of fungi and the activity of dehydrogenases, catalase, and acid phosphatase. The applied sorbents modified the microbiological and biochemical properties of soil. In zinc-contaminated soil, alginate, biochar, and molecular sieve increased the counts of organotrophic, oligotrophic, and actinobacteria. Sorbents were not highly effective in promoting fungal growth and exerted varied effects on the activity of soil enzymes. The molecular sieve stimulated the activity of all soil enzymes, excluding β-glucosidase. Alginate minimized the negative influence of zinc on dehydrogenases and acid phosphatase, and biochar—on catalase, sepiolite, and calcined halloysite —on acid phosphatase. By modifying the biological properties of soil, the tested sorbents contributed to an increase in maize yields and a decrease in zinc uptake by maize plants.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and pistachio husk biochar combination reduces Ni distribution in mungbean plant and improves plant antioxidants and soil enzymes

“…The amendment with PHB, ZE, AMF, and AMF + PHB and AMF + ZE to the Ni‐polluted soil considerably improved the activity of these enzymes (Figure 5), especially with the combined PHB + AMF treatment. Biochar is known to enhance the enzyme activity of the soil via (1) increasing the abundance of microorganisms via providing nutrients and (2) reducing the Ni stress (Khan et al, 2017; Strachel et al, 2018). AMF is one of the microorganisms secreting soil enzymes (Khan et al, 2020; Wu et al, 2015), hence, directly contributing to the soil health.…”

Bioaugmentation of Soil Contaminated with Zinc

“…Nonetheless, most of them may impair cell metabolism (Selvi and Aruliah 2018). Effects of heavy metals on the microbiological and chemical properties of soil include decreased numbers and diversity of the microbiome and, consequently, the suppressed activity of soil enzymes (Cáliz et al 2013;Qu et al 2011;Strachel et al 2018;Wyszkowska et al 2016). For this reason, extensive works have been undertaken to develop methods that would minimize the adverse impact of heavy metals on the soil environment.…”

Mitigation of the Adverse Impact of Copper, Nickel, and Zinc on Soil Microorganisms and Enzymes by Mineral Sorbents

“…It contains more than 77% stable C, 17% volatile matter, less than 6% ash, and less than 0.01% chlorides, sulphur, and mercury. Complete specification of the molecular sieve, halloysite, sepiolite, and biochar was presented in our earlier paper [ 51 ], whereas zeolite Bio.Zeo.S.01 was characterised in the article by Boros-Lajszner et al [ 52 ].…”