Does biochar application in heavy metal-contaminated soils affect soil micronutrient dynamics?

Enhanced reduction of Cd uptake by wheat plants using iron and manganese oxides combined with citrate in Cd-contaminated weakly alkaline arable soils

Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides can be used to remediate Cd-polluted soils due to their excellent performance in heavy metal adsorption. However, their remediation capability is rather limited, and a higher content of available Mn and Fe in soils can reduce Cd accumulation in wheat plants due to the competitive absorption effect. In this study, goethite and cryptomelane were first respectively used to immobilize Cd in Cd-polluted weakly alkaline soils, and sodium citrate was then added to increase the content of available Mn and Fe content for further reduction of wheat Cd absorption. In the first season, the content of soil-available Cd and Cd in wheat plants significantly decreased when cryptomelane, goethite and their mixture were used as the remediation agents. Cryptomelane showed a better remediation effect, which could be attributed to its higher adsorption performance. The grain Cd content could be decreased from 0.35 mg kg-1 to 0.25 mg kg-1 when the content of cryptomelane was controlled at 0.5%. In the second season, when sodium citrate at 20 mmol kg-1 was further added to the soils with 0.5% cryptomelane treatment in the first season, the content of soil available Cd was increased by 14.8%, and the available Mn content was increased by 19.5%, leading to a lower Cd content in wheat grains (0.16 mg kg-1) probably due to the competitive absorption. This work provides a new strategy for the remediation of slightly Cd-polluted arable soils with safe and high-quality production of wheat.

Effect of granulated biochar sphere on mineral nutrients in removing potentially toxic elements from contaminated agricultural soils

Biochar (BC) granulation, yielding BC-based spheres, serves as an eco-friendly, cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for the removal of potential toxic elements (PTEs) from contaminated agricultural soils. The effect of BC-based spheres on mineral nutrients while effectively removing PTEs from contaminated soils is worth investigating. In this study, we utilized natural clay minerals, magnetic minerals and BC to produce water-hardened magnetic composite biochar sphere (WMBCS) that was capable of removing PTEs from composite contaminated agricultural soils. We explored the effect of WMBCS on minerals (Al, Ca, Fe, Mn, Na, Mg, Si, K, P, NH4+, and NO3-) in the removal of soil PTEs. WMBCS was a mineral nutrient-rich, recyclable, alkaline BC-based sphere that removes Cd (23.07-29.20 %), Pb (27.68-31.10 %), and As (26.17-37.48 %) from soils after three regeneration cycles. The effect of WMBCS on mineral nutrients varies depending on element type, BC and soil type. Compared to water-hardened magnetic composite phosphate modified biochar spheres (WMPBCS), water-hardened magnetic composite unmodified biochar spheres (WMUBCS) had more significant effect on Ca, Mg, Mn, Al and NH4+ in alkaline soils, but a greater effect on Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe and NO3- in acidic soils. Additionally, WMBCS displayed a more pronounced impact on mineral nutrients in alkaline soils than in acidic soils. The application of WMBCS reduced the accumulation of PTEs in wheat (18.40-84.70 %) and rice (27.96-88.66 %), but significantly inhibited seed germination and altered the uptake of mineral nutrients by seedlings due to its effects on soil physicochemical properties and mineral nutrient dynamics. Overall, WMBCS is suitable as a potential amendment for the remediation of soils co-contaminated with Cd, As, and Pb, but its effects on mineral nutrients cannot be overlooked, particularly in agricultural soils.

Ecological consequences of biochar and hydrochar amendments in soil: assessing environmental impacts and influences

Anthropogenic activities have caused irreversible consequences on our planet, including climate change and environmental pollution. Nevertheless, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and capturing carbon can mitigate global warming. Biochar and hydrochar are increasingly used for soil remediation due to their stable adsorption qualities. As soil amendments, these materials improve soil quality and reduce water loss, prevent cracking and shrinkage, and interact with microbial communities, resulting in a promising treatment method for reducing gas emissions from the top layer of soil. However, during long-term studies, contradictory results were found, suggesting that higher biochar application rates led to higher soil CO2 effluxes, biodiversity loss, an increase in invasive species, and changes in nutrient cycling. Hydrochar, generated through hydrothermal carbonization, might be less stable when introduced into the soil, which could lead to heightened GHG emissions due to quicker carbon breakdown and increased microbial activity. On the other hand, biochar, created via pyrolysis, demonstrates stability and can beneficially impact GHG emissions. Biochar could be the preferred red option for carbon sequestration purposes, while hydrochar might be more advantageous for use as a gas adsorbent. This review paper highlights the ecological impact of long-term applications of biochar and hydrochar in soil. In general, using these materials as soil amendments helps establish a sustainable pool of organic carbon, decreasing atmospheric GHG concentration and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Temperature-induced changes in DTPA-extractable trace elements: Predicting the potential impact of climate change on the availability of soil elements

The extraction of trace elements from soil with DTPA is a widely used protocol across laboratories. There is a possible "hidden" discrepancy regarding the results obtained from the extractions, i.e., ambient laboratory temperature and soil properties. In this study, the possible influence of these factors on the extractability of the available forms of Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn, measured with DTPA were studied. Α series of extractions was carried out on a soil sample under normal laboratory temperatures, which fluctuated throughout the year, from 15 to 33.9 °C. In other 144 soil samples, the prevailing physico-chemical properties of soil were evaluated (pH, organic C, clay, CaCO3) that affected the percentage of DTPA extractability relative to the pseudo-total determined content. A strong positive correlation of all metals versus increased ambient temperature was found. Cu had an R2 of 0.897, Fe 0.970, Mn 0.957, Ni 0.938, Pb 0.876, and, Zn 0.922, all highly significant. Extracted Mn exhibited a 6.5-fold increase at the highest temperature of 33.9 οC compared to the lowest. Similar increasing trend was observed for Fe, and Ni, and smaller for Cu, Zn, and Pb. Inherent soil properties affected the percentage of extractability relative to the total content: extractability of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni was affected negatively by pH, and the extractability of the studied metals with CaCO3 content. Other soil properties (organic C and clay/sand content) also had an effect, not as pronounced as that of pH and CaCO3. This signifies the necessity of employing standard conditions for routine extractions such as DTPA so that data may be comparable. Also these identified discrepancies may have consequences in the extractability and availability of soil micronutrients and toxic elements regarding climate change. This study aspires to play the role of an initial step towards more robust investigations that would suggest ways of correcting temperature and soil characteristics discrepancies across laboratories.

Bacteria-loaded biochar for the immobilization of cadmium in an alkaline-polluted soil

The combination of biochar and bacteria is a promising strategy for the remediation of Cd-polluted soils. However, the synergistic mechanisms of biochar and bacteria for Cd immobilization remain unclear. In this study, the experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the combination of biochar and Pseudomonas sp. AN-B15, on Cd immobilization, soil enzyme activity, and soil microbiome. The results showed that biochar could directly reduce the motility of Cd through adsorption and formation of CdCO3 precipitates, thereby protecting bacteria from Cd toxicity in the solution. In addition, bacterial growth further induces the formation of CdCO3 and CdS and enhances Cd adsorption by bacterial cells, resulting in a higher Cd removal rate. Thus, bacterial inoculation significantly enhances Cd removal in the presence of biochar in the solution. Moreover, soil incubation experiments showed that bacteria-loaded biochar significantly reduced soil exchangeable Cd in comparison with other treatments by impacting soil microbiome. In particular, bacteria-loaded biochar increased the relative abundance of Bacillus, Lysobacter, and Pontibacter, causing an increase in pH, urease, and arylsulfatase, thereby passivating soil exchangeable Cd and improving soil environmental quality in the natural alkaline Cd-contaminated soil. Overall, this study provides a systematic understanding of the synergistic mechanisms of biochar and bacteria for Cd immobilization in soil and new insights into the selection of functional strain for the efficient remediation of the contaminated environments by bacterial biochar composite.

High-carbon wood ash biochar for mine tailings restoration: A field assessment of planted tree performance and metals uptake

Unique properties of biochar render it appealing for revegetating and decontaminating historic, barren, and chemically complex mine tailings. Bottom ash from bioenergy facilities can contain high levels of charcoal residue, and thus qualify as a type of biochar; the wide availability of this material at low cost makes it of particular interest in the context of tailings remediation. Nevertheless, bottom ash is variable and often contains residual toxic metal/loids that could be phytoabsorbed into plant tissues. We implemented a replicated field trial on historic contaminated metal mine tailings in Northern Ontario (Canada) over a range of high‑carbon wood ash biochar (HCWAB) dosages (0-30 t/ha) to evaluate tree and substrate responses. Sapling survivorship and aboveground biomass growth were quantified over a 4-year period; substrate chemical parameters were measured using acid-digestion and ICP-MS, as well as ion exchange resin probes. To assess elemental composition of sapling tissues, we used electron probe microanalysis combined with laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) on intact samples across the range of dosages applied. Survival and growth of saplings peaked at mid-range ash dosages of 3-6 t/ha. Similarly, substrate ion availability of P, K, and Zn were stable at lower dosages, but increased above 6 t/ha. The trace amounts of toxic metal/loids of concern measured in wood ash (As, Cd, Cu, and Pb) did not result in significantly increased sapling tissue concentrations at low to moderate dosages, but in some cases tissue contaminant levels were elevated at the highest dosage examined (30 t/ha). Our findings highlight the potential for high‑carbon wood ash biochar to be used for metal mine restoration at low to moderate dosages.

Nanomaterials in biochar: Review of their effectiveness in remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils

Biochar can be used for soil remediation in environmentally beneficial manner, especially when combined with nanomaterials. After a decade of research, still, no comprehensive review was conducted on the effectiveness of biochar-based nanocomposites in controlling heavy metal immobilization at soil interfaces. In this paper, the recent progress in immobilizing heavy metals using biochar-based nanocomposite materials were reviewed and compared their efficacy against that of biochar alone. In details, an overview of results on the immobilization of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, and As was presented by different nanocomposites made by various biochars derived from kenaf bar, green tea, residual bark, cornstalk, wheat straw, sawdust, palm fiber, and bagasse. Biochar nanocomposite was found to be most effective when combined with metallic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ and FeS) and carbonaceous nanomaterials (graphene oxide and chitosan). This study also devoted special consideration to different remediation mechanisms by which the nanomaterials affect the effectiveness of the immobilization process. The effects of nanocomposites on soil characteristics related to pollution migration, phytotoxicity, and soil microbial composition were assessed. A future perspective on nanocomposites' use in contaminated soils was presented.

Pros and Cons of Biochar to Soil Potentially Toxic Element Mobilization and Phytoavailability: Environmental Implications

While the potential of biochar (BC) to immobilize potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated soils has been studied and reviewed, no review has focused on the potential use of BC for enhancing the phytoremediation efficacy of PTE-contaminated soils. Consequently, the overarching purpose in this study is to critically review the effects of BC on the mobilization, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and bioremediation of PTEs in contaminated soils. Potential mechanisms of the interactions between BC and PTEs in soils are also reviewed in detail. We discuss the promises and challenges of various approaches, including potential environmental implications, of BC application to PTE-contaminated soils. The properties of BC (e.g., surface functional groups, mineral content, ionic content, and π-electrons) govern its impact on the (im)mobilization of PTEs, which is complex and highly element-specific. This review demonstrates the contrary effects of BC on PTE mobilization and highlights possible opportunities for using BC as a mobilizing agent for enhancing phytoremediation of PTEs-contaminated soils.

Co-incorporation of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.), rice straw, and biochar strengthens the mitigation of Cd uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination is becoming a widespread concern because of its threat to global ecosystem health and food security. Co-incorporation of Chinese milk vetch (MV) and rice straw (RS) is a common agricultural practice in Southern China; however, the effects of combining these two materials with biochar on Cd bioavailability remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of MV, RS, rape straw biochar (RB), iron-modified biochar (FB), and their combinations on Cd uptake by rice through incubation and field experiments. The results showed that compared with the control without material input (CK), MV + RS (MR), MV + RS + RB (MRRB), and MV + RS + FB (MRFB) considerably reduced the Cd concentration in brown rice by 61.20 %, 65.38 %, and 62.65 %, respectively. Furthermore, the treatments increased the formation of iron‑manganese plaque (IMP) at different growth stages; MRRB and MRFB exhibited the highest increase rates among the treatments. Quantitatively, the Fe plaque and Mn plaque were increased by 20.61 %-47.23 % and 80.18 %-172.74 %, respectively. Compared with CK, the MRRB and MRFB treatments reduced the soil available Cd by 35.09 %-54.45 % and 38.20 %-50.20 %, respectively, at all stages. This decrease was substantially lower than that observed in the MV, RS, and MR treatments. Similar trends were observed in the incubation experiment. Additionally, the Community Bureau of Reference Sequential Extraction Analysis indicated that the MRRB and MRFB treatments converted the bioavailable Cd fractions into a stable form. Partial least squares path model and redundancy analysis revealed that pH was the major factor influencing Cd bioavailability. This study emphasized that the dual impact factors from the enhancement of Cd passivation capability and IMP formation jointly result in the reduction of Cd uptake by rice. Consequently, the co-incorporation of MV, RS, and biochar is promising for remediating Cd-contaminated paddy soils in Southern China.

Toxicological effect assessment of aged biochar on Escherichia coli

Biochar (BC) is a biomass material that has a wide range of applications on the remediating heavy metals. In this experiment, we prepared BC (300 ºC, 500 ºC, and 700 ºC) and applied them to adsorb lead ions (Pb²⁺) to simulate BC treatment of Pb²⁺-contaminated soil. The retention capacity of BC for heavy metals was altered by means of bacterial culture, and the heavy metals released by BC can have toxicological effects on bacteria. This approach was used to assess the effects of long-term application of BC in heavily contaminated land with heavy metals on soil microorganisms. The results show that Escherichia coli survived in the medium containing lower doses of Pb²⁺-aged BC prepared at 300 ºC and 500 ºC (25 mg/L and 50 mg/L), depending on its ability of tolerating a certain amount of Pb²⁺. The addition of 100 mg/L Pb²⁺-aged BC prepared at 700 ºC not only significantly inhibited the growth of E. coli, but also promoted the release of citric acid from E. coli, which in turn triggered BC releasing more Pb²⁺. It is hoped that this will provide foundation to support the long-term application of BC in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.

Evaluating the remediation potential of MgFe2O4-montmorillonite and its co-application with biochar on heavy metal-contaminated soils

In this work, a novel and efficient magnesium ferrite-modified montmorillonite (MgFe2O4-MMT) compound was prepared. MgFe2O4-MMT and biochar were mixed at 0:10, 1:9, 3:7, 4:6, and 10:0 w/w combinations and were used for heavy metal immobilization in soil polluted with multiple heavy metals. MgFe2O4-MMT can significantly increase soil alkalinity, and it exhibited the most optimal effect in immobilization of heavy metals in soil. The amounts of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn that were extracted by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) decreased by 58.4%, 50.3%, 42.9%, and 24.7%, respectively. MgFe2O4-MMT can immobilize heavy metals through electrostatic interactions and cation exchange processes. Although, the immobilization of potentially toxic elements by MgFe2O4-MMT and biochar was inferior to that by MgFe2O4-MMT. The combined application of MgFe2O4-MMT and biochar dramatically increased the diversity and richness of the soil bacterial community. The Chao1 index for M3B7 treatment group was 1.7 and 1.2 times higher than that for the control and MgFe2O4-MMT treatment groups, respectively. The combination of biochar and MgFe2O4-MMT might be a cost-effective and ecological remediation approach for mild Pb and Cd contamination.