Biochar provides a safe and value-added solution for hyperaccumulating plant disposal: A case study of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. (Phytolaccaceae)

Abstract

In this work, an innovative approach using biochar technology for hyperaccumulator disposal was developed and evaluated. The heavy metal enriched P. acinosa biomass (PBM) was pyrolyzed to produce biochar (PBC). Both PBM and PBC were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal phases, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface topography, and analyzed for elemental composition and mobility. The results revealed that whewellite, a dominant crystal form in biomass, was decomposed to calcite after pyrolysis. Elemental analysis indicated that 91-99% total non-volatile elements in the biomass were retained in the biochar. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) results revealed that 94.6% and 0.15% of total Mn was extracted for biomass and biochar, respectively. This suggests that mobility and bioavailability of Mn in biochar was much lower relative to pristine biomass. Batch sorption experiment showed that excellent removal of aqueous silver, lead, cadmium, and copper ions can be achieved with PBC. Findings from this work indicated that biochar technology can provide a value-added solution for hyperaccumulator disposal.

Contamination of Soil with Diesel Oil, Application of Sewage Sludge and Content of Macroelements in Oats

“…The degrading effect of petroleum derivatives on soil causes a reduction in biodiversity, bioavailable forms of nitrogen and phosphorus and other elements and a violation of water and oxygen conditions (Obire and Nwabueta 2002;Souza et al 2014). Soaking the soil with oil derivatives can also affect on the uptake of particular nutrients by plants and their content in their organs (Wyszkowski et al 2004;Wang et al 2017), significantly reducing the uptake of macroelements (Borowik and Wyszkowska 2018). Wyszkowski and Ziółkowska (2009) demonstrated that diesel oil and petrol contribute to the reduction of nitrogen content in plants, which is consistent with the results of this experiment.…”

Roles of Heavy Metals during Pyrolysis and Gasification of Metal-Contaminated Waste Biomass: A Review

“…Therefore, owing to MCWB biochar's environmental acceptability, it could be potentially exploited for further usability. In addition, Wang et al 139 and Cu et al 11 reported two different HMCWBs (Phytolacca acinosa and S. alf redii) and reported the highest sorption capacities by derived biochars for Cd (43.7−186.8 mg g −1 ), Cu (47.7 mg g −1 ), Pb (152−198.8 mg g −1 ), and Ag (198.3 mg g −1 ). Hence, biochars derived from MCWBs can be efficiently employed in wastewater treatment industries.…”

Differentiation between physical and chemical effects of oil presence in freshly spiked soil during rhizoremediation trial

“…Potential physical and chemical effects caused by the presence of oils in soil are less oxygen supply, destructed soil structure and poor nutrient exchange. The other reported physical effects of oil’s presence in soils are the decrease in soil temperature and water holding capacity as well as the increase in soil pH that may linked with lower phosphorus availability (Wang et al 2017 ; Sonnleitner et al 2003 ). Many rhizoremediation investigations showed that weathered or aged contaminated soils showed less phytotoxic effects as compared to freshly spiked soils which yielded more plant biomass.…”