Leaching behavior and efficiency of cadmium in alkaline soil by adding two novel immobilization materials

Mercapto-functionalized palygorskite modified the growth of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and restrained the Cd migration in the soil-plant system

Ligusticum Chuanxiong is an essential medicinal and edible plant, but it is highly susceptible to the enrichment of soil Cadmium (Cd), which seriously affects its medical safety. However, the control of Cd uptake by Ligusticum Chuanxiong is little reported. In this study, we reported that a green Mercapto-functionalized palygorskite (MPAL) effectively promoted Ligusticum Chuanxiong growth, and restrained the Cd uptake by Ligusticum Chuanxiong both in the mildly contaminated soil (M-Soil) and severely contaminated soil (S-Soil). The experimental results demonstrated that the application of MPAL significantly increased the biomass and antioxidant enzyme activity of Ligusticum Chuanxiong. In the M-Soil, the Cd content in the roots, stems, and leaves of Ligusticum Chuanxiong decreased markedly by 82.46-86.66%, 64.17-71.73%, and 64.94-76.66%, respectively, after the MPAL treatment. In the S-Soil, MPAL application decreased the Cd content in roots, stems, and leaves by 89.43-98.92%, 24.19-86.22%, and 67.14-77.90%, respectively. Based on Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA) extraction, the immobilization efficiency of MPAL for Cd in soils ranged from 22.01% to 77.04%. Additionally, the HOAc extractable Cd was transformed into reducible and oxidizable fractions. Furthermore, MPAL enhanced the activities of soil alkaline phosphatase, and urease, but decreased sucrase activity. Environmental toxicological analysis indicated that MPAL reduced the potential ecological risk of Cd in the soil. These findings revealed that MPAL can effectively reduce Cd accumulation in Ligusticum Chuanxiong and promote plant growth, suggesting its potential as a viable amendment for remediating Cd-contaminated soils.

Rapidly reducing cadmium from contaminated farmland soil by novel magnetic recyclable Fe3O4/mercapto-functionalized attapulgite beads

Reducing cadmium (Cd) content from contaminated farmland soils remains a major challenge due to the difficulty in separating commonly used adsorbents from soils. This study synthesized novel millimeter-sized magnetic Fe3O4/mercapto-functionalized attapulgite beads (MFBs) through a facile one-step gelation process incorporating alginate. The MFBs inherit the environmental stability of alginate and enhance its mechanical strength by hybridizing Fe3O4 and clay mineral components. MFBs can be easily separated from flooded soils by magnets. When applied to 12 Cd-polluted paddy soils and 14 Cd-polluted upland soils, MFBs achieved Cd(II) removal rates ranging from 16.9% to 62.2% and 9.8%-54.6%, respectively, within a 12-h period. The MFBs predominantly targeted the exchangeable and acid soluble, and reducible fractions of Cd, with significantly enhanced removal efficiencies in paddy soils compared to upland soils. Notably, MFBs exhibited superior adsorption performance in soils with lower pH and organic matter (OM) content, where the bioavailability and mobility of Cd are heightened. The reduction of Cd content by MFBs is a sustainable and safe method, as it permanently removes the bioavailable Cd from soil, rather than temporarily reducing its bioavailability. The functional groups such as -SH, -OH, present in attapulgite and alginate of MFBs, played a crucial role in Cd(II) adsorption. Additionally, attapulgite and zeolite provided a porous matrix structure that further enhanced Cd(II) adsorption. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggested that both chemical precipitation and surface complexation contributed to Cd(II) removal. The MFBs maintained 87.6% Cd removal efficiency after 5 regeneration cycles. The surface of the MFBs exposed new adsorption sites and increased the specific surface area during multiple cycles with Cd-contaminated soil. This suggests that MFBs treatment with magnetic retrieval is a potentially effective pathway for the rapid removal of Cd from contaminated farmland soils.

Mechanism and effectiveness of enzymatically induced phosphate precipitation (EIPP) in stabilizing coexisting lead, zinc, and cadmium in tailings

Lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) tailings ponds carry the risk of multiple heavy metals (HMs) contamination and pile destabilization. This poses requirements for in-situ applicable, low-distribution, and effective stabilization/solidification (S/S) methods. For this, the novel enzymatically induced phosphate precipitation (EIPP) method was implemented in this study. Its mechanism and performance on stabilization of composite Pb, Zn, and cadmium (Cd) in tailings were explored and evaluated under typical erosion conditions for the first time. Results show that the EIPP stabilized HMs by chemically transforming the unstable carbonate-bound HMs to stable phosphate precipitates and by physically encapsulating tailings particles with newberyite precipitates. The stabilization effect on the three HMs was ranked as Pb > Zn > Cd. Comparing magnesium resources for the EIPP reactants, the EIPP utilizing Mg(CH3COO)2 was more effective at decontamination than MgCl2 because its special pre-activation and re-precipitation function enhanced the chemical transformation function of EIPP. The EIPP stabilization was confirmed to reduce simulated acid rain-leachable and bio-extractive HMs by about 90% and 60%, respectively. Under the prolonged acid attack, treated HMs were ultimately leached through the dissolution mechanism. Zn exhibited significant instability in highly acidic conditions (pH = 2.5-3.5), where its cumulative leaching toxicity after long-term dissolution warrants attention. Overall, EIPP presents a novel and effective strategy for on-site mitigation of composite HMs pollution.

Transcriptome and ultrastructural analysis revealed the mechanism of Mercapto-palygorskite on reducing Cd content in wheat

Large areas of crop yields in northern China have faced with cadmium (Cd) contamination problems. Mercapto-modified palygorskite (MP), as a highly efficient immobilization material, could reduce Cd absorption in wheat and alleviate its biotoxicity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying MP-mediated Cd reduction and detoxification processes in wheat is not well understood. This aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the reduction in Cd accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The results showed that MP application decreased the Cd concentration by 68.91-74.32% (root) and 70.68-77.2% (shoot), and significantly increased the glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs) contents in root and shoot. In addition, with the application of MP, the percentage of Cd in the cell walls and organelles of wheat decreased, while that of Cd in soluble components was increased. The content of Cd in all components was significantly reduced. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that MP thickened the cell wall, promoted vesicle formation in the membrane and protected the integrity of intracellular organelles in wheat. Transcriptome analysis further confirmed the above results. MP upregulated the expression of several genes (CCR, CAD COMT and SUS) involved in cell wall component biosynthesis and promoted vesicle formation on cell membranes by upregulating the expression of PLC and IPMK genes. In addition, genes related to antioxidant synthesis (PGD, glnA and GSS) and photosynthesis (Lhca, Lhcb) were altered by MP to alleviate Cd toxicity in wheat. This present work will help to more thoroughly elucidate the molecular mechanism by which wheat defends against Cd contamination under MP application and provide and important research basis for the application of this material in the future.

Geoenvironmental properties of a Cr(VI)-contaminated soil treated by alkali-activated GGBS under freeze-thaw cycles: Insights into Cr species transformation and microscopic mechanism

Stabilization/solidification is the most frequently used method for treating soils contaminated by heavy metals; however, degradation of the treatment will occur under freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. In this paper, a low-carbon emission by-product, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), was adopted as a binder to treat Cr(VI)-contaminated soil after alkali excitation. Built on the usage scenarios of subgrade materials, the impact of F-T cycles and initial water content on the geoenvironmental properties of the treated soils, including leaching toxicity, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), pH, Eh, and permeability, were discussed. To investigate the mechanisms of the changing properties, this study analyzed the chemical morphology of Cr, the micromorphology of the reaction products, and the pore characteristics. The results demonstrated that negative impact of F-T cycles on treatment effectiveness was low at the optimal water content. After 28 F-T cycles, the Cr(VI) component increased by 6.4 %, and the leached Cr concentration showed a significant increase, especially for specimens with low water content. A new solid phase with mixed valence Mn(III/IV), mainly composed of birnessite and manganite, was observed via microscopic analysis. During the first 3 F-T cycles, the content of hydration gel increased by 0.18 %, and the cumulative pore volume decreased such that the UCS increased by an average of 1.2 MPa. This study demonstrated that a few F-T cycles would result in a secondary alkali-activated GGBS reaction, enhancing the treatment effect. However, additional F-T cycles would create an oxidizing environment under which the initially precipitated Cr(III) would react with manganese oxide, resulting in more Cr(VI) released. The degree of reoxidation was closely related to the initial water content of the solidified soil.

Mercapto-palygorskite efficiently immobilizes cadmium in alkaline soil and reduces its accumulation in wheat plants: A field study

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in wheat fields has become a major environmental issue in many regions of the world. Mercapto-palygorskite (MPAL) is a high-performance amendment that can effectively immobilize Cd in alkaline wheat soil. However, MAPL as an in-situ Cd immobilization strategy for alkaline wheat soil remains to be evaluated on a field-scale and the underlying mechanisms requires further evaluation. Here, MPAL were used as soil amendment to evaluate their immobilization efficiency on Cd-contaminated alkaline soil in the field experiments. The field experiments showed that MPAL application significantly reduced wheat grain Cd concentration from 0.183 mg/kg to 0.056 mg/kg, with Cd concentration in wheat grain treated with MPAL all falling below the limit value of 0.1 mg/kg as defined in China's food safety standard (GB 2762-2022). The maximal immobilization efficiency of MPAL on soil Cd figured out by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction was 61.5%. The mechanisms involved in Cd immobilization by MPAL were mainly related to the enhanced sorption of Cd onto Fe oxides, and the removal of amorphous or free Fe oxides from soil had a substantial impact on Cd immobilization efficiency by MPAL. Furthermore, the antagonistic effect between Mn and Cd uptake may also contribute to the reduction of wheat Cd accumulation after MPAL application. The current research can provide theoretical and technical support for the large-scale application of MPAL in Cd-contaminated wheat fields.

Ionomic analysis reveals the mechanism of mercaptosilane-modified palygorskite on reducing Cd transport from soil to wheat

Mercaptosilane-modified palygorskite (MP) can immobilize Cd in acid soil and reduce the enrichment of Cd in rice. However, the immobilization effect and its durability on alkaline field were unclear. Meanwhile, whether MP could reduce Cd in different wheat parts at different stages also needs further exploration. Here, we determined the dynamic change of Cd in soil and wheat at different periods, studied the interaction mechanism at key organs, and calculated the contribution of coexisting metals on the reduction of Cd to study the effect of MP on the transfer of Cd in soil-wheat system. Results showed MP was highly effective to immobilize Cd in alkaline farmland and could take effect during the whole growing season but not change pH values. DTPA-Cd and EXE-Cd of soil were reduced by 34.88-49.71% and 49.36-84.81%, respectively, while OX-Cd was increased by 34.61-43.60% at the whole stages. Cd in grains at maturity stage was reduced from 0.118 to 0.069 mg/kg, lower than the limit standard of the China and Codex Alimentarius Commission (0.1 mg/kg). Root and nodes were critical organs influenced by MP to reduce Cd in grains, and the reduction efficiency on wheat was relatively weak at flowering and filling stage. MP regulated the antagonism or synergy effects of coexisting elements on Cd to modulate the Cd accumulation in grains. Besides, the contributions of different elements on Cd were also evaluated by path models. This will provide an important basis for the precision remediation of Cd-polluted alkaline wheat fields.

Immobilization of cadmium in paddy soil using a novel active silicon-potassium amendment: a field experimental study

The rapid development of industrialization and agriculture has led to extensive environmental issues worldwide such as cadmium (Cd) pollution of paddy soils, posing a potential threat to environmental safety and food health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce the Cd contents in paddy soils. In this study, a newly active silicon-potassium amendment was first prepared from potassium hydroxide-assisted potassium feldspar at a low temperature, and then was used to remediate a contaminated paddy soil by Cd over a long period. The obtained results demonstrated the effectiveness of the applied active silicon-potassium in promoting rice growth in the experimental field. In addition, soil pH values increased to 6.89-7.03, thus decreasing the bioavailability of Cd bioavailability by 8.61-13.7%. The soil enzyme activities and available nutrients (Si, Ca, Mg, N, and P) were also significantly increased. In particular, the Cd contents in the rice grains decreased from 0.279 to 0.179-0.194 mg/kg following the application of the active silicon-potassium amendment, reaching the food crop standard level of China (< 0.2 mg/kg). The detailed remediation mechanisms of the Cd-contaminated paddy soil involved several processes, including ion exchange, ligand complexation, electrostatic attraction, and precipitation. Overall, the active silicon-potassium material is a promising amendment for achieving effective control of Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Immobilization of Cd by mercapto-palygorskite in typical calcareous and acidic soil aggregates: Performance and differences

The microscale spatial heterogeneity and complexity of soil aggregates affect the properties and distribution of heavy metals (HMs). It has been confirmed that amendments can alter the distribution of Cd in soil aggregates. However, whether the Cd immobilization effect of amendments varies across soil aggregate levels remains unknown. In this study, soil classification and culture experiments were combined to explore the effects of mercapto-palygorskite (MEP) on Cd immobilization in soil aggregates of different particle sizes. The results showed that a 0.05-0.2% MEP application decreased soil available Cd by 53.8-71.62% and 23.49-36.71% in calcareous and acidic soils, respectively. The Cd immobilization efficiency of MEP in calcareous soil aggregates was in the following order: micro-aggregates (66.42-80.19%) > bulk soil (53.78-71.62%) > macro-aggregates (44.00-67.51%), while the efficiency in acidic soil aggregates was inconsistent. In MEP-treated calcareous soil, the percentage change in Cd speciation in micro-aggregates were higher than that in macro-aggregates, whereas there was no significant difference in Cd speciation between the four acidic soil aggregates. Mercapto-palygorskite addition in micro-aggregates of calcareous soil increased the available Fe and Mn concentrations by 20.98-47.10% and 17.98-32.66%, respectively. Mercapto-palygorskite had no effect on soil pH, EC, CEC, and DOC values, while the difference in soil properties between the four particle sizes was the main influencing factor of MEP treatments on Cd in calcareous soil. The effects of MEP on HMs varied across soil aggregates and soil types, but had strong specificity and selectivity for Cd immobilization. This study illustrates the influence of soil aggregates on Cd immobilization using MEP, which can be used to guide the remediation of Cd-contaminated calcareous and acidic soils.

Antimony and naphthalene can be simultaneously leached from a combined contaminated soil using carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin as a biodegradable eluant

In this study, we have investigated the removal efficiency of antimony (Sb) and naphthalene (Nap) from a combined contaminated soil by carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD) leaching and reveal its remediation mechanisms by FTIR and ¹H NMR analyses. The results show that the highest removal efficiencies of Sb and Nap were 94.82% and 93.59%, respectively, with a CMCD concentration of 15 g L^-1 at a pH of 4 and a leaching rate of 2.00 mL min^-1 over an interval-time of 12 h. The breakthrough curves show that CMCD had a stronger inclusion capacity of Nap than Sb, and Sb could enhance the adsorption capacity of Nap, while Nap weakened the adsorption of Sb during CMCD leaching. Furthermore, the FTIR analysis suggests that the removal of Sb from combined contaminated soil involved complexation with the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on CMCD, and the NMR analysis suggests that the inclusion of Nap occurred. These results indicate that CMCD is a good eluant for remediating soil contaminated by a combination of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and its remediation mechanisms depend on the complexation reactions between the surface functional groups and inclusion reactions in the internal cavities.

Effect of goethite-loaded montmorillonite on immobilization of metal(loid)s and the micro-ecological soil response in non-ferrous metal smelting areas

In this work, the immobilization stabilization and mechanism of heavy metal(loid)s by goethite loaded montmorillonite (GMt) were investigated, and the soil microbial response was explored. The simulated acid rain leaching experiment showed that GMt had a higher acid tolerance and the more stable heavy metal(loid)s fixation ability. The soil incubation demonstrated that GMt significantly decreased the available Cd, Zn, Pb and As concentration. Interestingly, higher immobilization of heavy metals was observed by GMt in highly acid leached and acidic soils. The richness and diversity of bacterial communities improved after the addition of GMt. GMt induced the enrichment of the excellent functional bacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria as well as the genus Massilia and Sphingomonas. The main immobilization mechanisms of heavy metal(loid)s by GMt include electrostatic interaction, complexation, precipitation and oxidation. The addition of the GMt also optimizes the soil bacterial community structure, which further facilitates the immobilization of heavy metal(loid)s. Our results confirm that the novel GMt has a promising application in the immobilization and stabilization of heavy metal(loid)s contaminated soils in non-ferrous metal smelting areas.

Mechanism of mercapto-modified palygorskite in reducing soil Cd activity

Mercapto-modified palygorskite (MP) is an efficient novel amendment with superior ability to decrease soil Cd bioavailability, but the unclear immobilization mechanism has become the bottleneck of its performance improvement and precise application. In order to clarify the Cd reducing mechanism of MP, long-term and short-term soil incubation with three types of soils (paddy soil, alluvial soil and yellow mountain soil) and sorption verification experiments were conducted to investigate the dynamic process of soil labile Cd impacted by MP and the synergetic effects on labile Fe, Mn, S and dissolved organic carbon via in-situ diffusive gradients in thin-films and soil solution sampling techniques. MP with four dosages rapidly and continuously decreased soil labile Cd contents by 14.50 % ∼ 89.16 % in long-term incubation, meanwhile low-dosage MP reduced soil labile Fe and Mn contents, but high-dosage MP increased their contents. With MP dosages increased, the effects of Fe-Mn oxides on soil labile Cd content gradually weakened. MP effectively promoted the reduction of Fe adsorbed by clay minerals and enhanced their ability to adsorb Cd. Short-term incubation showed that MP could decline soil labile Cd by 7.17 % ∼ 44.74 %, especially at the dosage 0.4 %. MP was a reduction catalyst to facilitate Fe reduction, which profited for clay minerals adsorbing Cd. The sorption experiments indicated that 0.30 % MP could adsorb 73.34 % Cd²⁺, promote the release of Fe²⁺ from the soil, and stimulate the ability of clay minerals to adsorb Cd. The results revealed that MP decreased soil labile Cd content within 2 d, and MP made soil Cd activity change out of the influence of soil Fe/Mn redox system. The mechanism will be beneficial for the large-scale application of MP in safe utilization of Cd contaminated soil.

Potential use of hydroxyapatite combined with hydrated lime or zeolite to promote growth and reduce cadmium transfer in the soil-celery-human system

Although hydroxyapatite (HAP) can prominently lower Cd uptake by celery from Cd-polluted soil, its high application rates in reality may lead to high cost and potential environmental risk. Therefore, we aimed to clarify whether combined amendments of HAP and another low-cost material (hydrated lime, corn straw-derived biochar, or zeolite) with reduced application rate of each single amendment could significantly decrease Cd transfer in soil-celery-human system without side effect on celery growth through a pot experiment. Results revealed that adding biochar, HAP, zeolite, or combined amendments had no obvious side effect on celery growth, while adding 0.3% hydrated lime significantly decreased fresh edible celery yield by 69.0%. Conversely, adding 0.5% HAP + 0.05% hydrated lime increased fresh edible celery yield by 39.8%. Additionally, adding HAP, zeolite, or hydrated lime rather than adding biochar effectively decreased total and bioaccessible Cd in edible celery. Similarly, HAP + hydrated lime and HAP + zeolite were much more efficient than HAP + biochar in lowering Cd transfer in soil-celery-human system. The total and bioaccessible Cd in edible celery were even reduced by over 50.0% after adding HAP + hydrated lime or HAP + zeolite at low rates. Considering the effects on celery growth and Cd transfer, HAP + hydrated lime and HAP + zeolite have the potential in remediating soil Cd contamination.

Reduction, stabilization, and solidification of Cr(VI) in contaminated soils with a sustainable by-product-based binder

This study evaluated the use of a sustainable GFD binder for the stabilization/solidification (S/S) of chromium VI (Cr(VI))-contaminated soil. The GFD binder was composed of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash and desulfurization ash, named after the initials of the three materials. The effects of curing time and binder dosage on soil unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Cr leachability, soil pH, and reduction ratio of Cr (VI) were tested. The immobilization mechanisms of Cr(VI) in contaminated soil were further explored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and sequential extraction procedure (SEP). The results showed that the UCS and pH of the soil increased substantially after the GFD binder was added. After 28 days of curing with a 20% binder dosage, the leached total Cr concentration decreased from 34.4 mg/L in the contaminated soil to 1.44 mg/L in the treated soil, and the leached Cr(VI) concentration decreased from 28.0 mg/L to 0.45 mg/L. A Cr(VI) reduction ratio of 96.2% was achieved, indicating the strong reducibility of GGBFS. XRD revealed that the main hydration products of the GFD binder were hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) and ettringite. SEM results showed that the formation of hydration products and Cr-bearing precipitates filled the soil pores, resulting in a dense soil structure. The SEP results demonstrated that the levels of the unstable fraction F1 decreased considerably, and that the levels of the stable fractions F3 and F5 increased after treatment. Encapsulation by C-S-H, reduction by sulfides, adsorption of C-S-H, and precipitation of Cr-bearing hydroxides were the main mechanisms involved in Cr immobilization using the GFD binder.

Comparative effects of Tagetes patula L. extraction, mercapto-palygorskite immobilisation, and the combination thereof on Cd accumulation by wheat in Cd-contaminated soil

Phytoextraction and in situ immobilisation are two of the most commonly used remediation techniques for Cd-contaminated farmland. In theory, phytoextraction followed by immobilisation can reduce the total Cd and available Cd contents of the soil, making it suitable for the remediation of heavily Cd-contaminated alkaline soil. However, the real remediation efficiency is uncertain, and it is also unknown whether phytoextraction affects subsequent wheat Cd accumulation. In this study, two seasonal pot experiments were conducted to determine the effects of S,S-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS)-assisted Tagetes patula L. (T. patula) extraction, mercapto-palygorskite (MPAL) immobilisation, and the combination thereof on subsequent Cd accumulation in wheat. EDDS application significantly increased the Cd content in the subsequent-soil solution, but the EDDS-activated Cd could not be absorbed by wheat roots. T. patula extraction decreased the subsequent soil pH value by 0.1-0.2 pH units, increased the available Cd content by 0.19 mg/kg, but had no effect on subsequent wheat Cd accumulation. The Cd absorption capacity of wheat roots and the Cd translocation capacity of wheat stems to grains of high-Cd wheat were higher than that of low-Cd wheat cultivar. The application of MPAL had no effect on soil pH value, but significantly decreased soil available Cd and exchangeable Cd contents by 17.78-36.76% and 21.13-52.63%; it also increased the Fe/Mn oxide-bound Cd fraction by 14.02-64.00%. MPAL application decreased the wheat grain Cd concentrations from 0.51 to 0.13 mg/kg (high-Cd wheat) and 0.35 to 0.05 mg/kg (low-Cd wheat), but had no negative effect on Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn elements. Compared with the single MPAL application treatments, the combination treatments had no inhibition effect on Cd accumulation in wheat. MPAL is an efficient amendment, and considering the remediation efficiency, stability, and time of these methods, the combination of MPAL application with a low-Cd accumulation wheat cultivar represents a suitable proposal to ensure the safe production of wheat in Cd-contaminated alkaline soil.

Facilitating effect of heavy metals on di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate adsorption in soil: New evidence from adsorption experiment data and quantum chemical simulation

In terms of researching and treating farmland pollution, interactions between organic and inorganic pollutants are very important aspects. Herein, the effects of heavy metals on di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) adsorption in soil were investigated. The presence of Cd²⁺/Cu²⁺ increased the adsorption capacity of DEHP (>23%) in a nonlinear manner. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the stretching vibration of soil functional groups changed under different pollution combinations, while quantum chemical simulation, including an independent gradient model and localized orbital locator, proved that outer-orbital complexes could be formed by electrostatic interaction between Cd²⁺/Cu²⁺ and DEHP. The electron transfer process was analyzed by charge decomposition analyses, and these, combined with bond critical point analyses, revealed that metal ions reduced DEHP stability. The binding energy and binding free energy of different combinations were calculated and analyzed, using the key soil organic matter (SOM) information obtained through pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry. This effectively explained the adsorption behavior, and showed that SOM polar functional groups played an important role in the effect of heavy metals on DEHP adsorption. The study described here has provided a new basis for understanding the multiple interactions, accumulation, and transformation of pollutants in the soil.

Research progress and mechanism of nanomaterials-mediated in-situ remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil: A critical review

Cadmium contamination of soil is a global issue and in-situ remediation technology as a promising mitigation strategy has attracted more and more attention. Many nanomaterials have been applied for the in-situ remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil due to their excellent properties of the nano-scale size effect. In this work, recent research progress of various nanomaterials, including carbon nanomaterials, metal-based nanomaterials and nano mineral materials, in the removal of cadmium and in-situ remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil were systematically discussed. Additional emphases were particularly laid on both laboratory and field restoration effects. Moreover, the factors which can affect the stability of cadmium, main interaction mechanisms between nanomaterials and cadmium in the soil, and potential future research direction were also provided. Therefore, it is believed that this work will ultimately contribute to the myriad of environmental cleanup advances, and further improve human health and sustainable development.

Effects of mercapto-palygorskite on Cd distribution in soil aggregates and Cd accumulation by wheat in Cd contaminated alkaline soil

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in alkaline soils is a serious issue in China. As the basic structural units of soil, soil aggregates play an important role in the migration and transformation of heavy metal. However, there are few studies on the effects of adding amendments on Cd distribution in soil aggregates in alkaline soils. In this study, pot experiments were conducted to assess the effects of mercapto-palygorskite (MPAL) on soil aggregates and Cd accumulation in wheat. The results showed that MPAL application had no effect on wheat yield but significantly reduced the Cd uptake by the roots and the Cd transport to the adjacent internode. Application of 0.1% MPAL reduced the Cd concentration in two wheat grains (0.57 and 0.44 mg/kg, control) to 0.10 and 0.09 mg/kg in moderately Cd-contaminated soil, which are below the China national standard limit of 0.1 mg/kg (GB 2762-2017). MPAL application had no effect on soil pH, cation exchange capacity, mass proportion and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates, but increased soil organic matter content. Importantly, MPAL application promoted the migration of Cd from large particles (>0.25 mm) to small particles (<0.048 mm), reduced the unstable Cd fractions in >0.25 mm soil particles of clay soil and in >0.075 mm soil particles of sandy soil, and increased the stable Cd fractions in bulk soils and soil aggregates. The effects of MPAL addition on soil aggregates (grain size fraction metals loading and accumulation factor) of sandy soil were more prominent than on those of clay soil. Under MPAL treatments, wheat grains Cd concentration was significantly positively correlated with the available Cd in >0.075 mm soil particles and the total Cd in >0.25 mm soil particles. These results indicated that MPAL application in alkaline soils promoted the migration of Cd to micro-aggregates and inhibited the uptake and transport of Cd by wheat roots, thus reducing the Cd concentration in wheat grains.

Effect of sterilization on cadmium immobilization and bacterial community in alkaline soil remediated by mercapto-palygorskite

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in alkaline soil in some areas of northern China has seriously threatened wheat production and human health. However, there are still few effective amendments for alkaline soil, and the mechanism of amendments with a good immobilization effect remains unclear. In this study, soil sterilization experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of soil microorganisms on the immobilization of a novel amendment-mercapto palygorskite (MPAL) in Cd-contaminated alkaline soils. The results showed that the mercapto on the MPAL surface was not affected by autoclaving. Compared with the control, the available Cd concentration in 0.025% MPAL treatments decreased by 18.80-29.23% after 1 d of aging and stabled after 10 d of aging. Importantly, the immobilization of MPAL on Cd in sterilized soil was significantly better than that in natural soil due to the changes in Cd fractions. Compared with MPAL-treated natural soil, exchangeable Cd fraction and carbonate-bound Cd fraction in MPAL-treated sterilized soil decreased by 20.79-27.09% and 20.05-26.45%, while Fe/Mn oxide-bound Cd fraction and organic matter-bound Cd fraction increased by 17.77-22.68% and 18.85-27.32%. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis found that the potential functions of the microbial community in normal and sterilized soil were different significantly. Soil sterilization increased the soil pH and decreased the arylsulfatase activity, but did not change the soil zeta potential and available sulfur. The changes in Cd fractions in MPAL-treated sterilized soil may be related to the reduction in the bacterial community and the changes in function microbial, but not to the soil properties. In addition, MPAL application had little effects on the bacterial community, soil pH value, zeta potential, available sulfur, and arylsulfatase. These results showed that the immobilization of MPAL on Cd in alkaline soil was stable and effective, and was not affected by soil sterilization and soil microorganism reduction.