Non-phytoremediation and phytoremediation technologies of integrated remediation for water and soil heavy metal pollution: A comprehensive review

Since the 1980s, there has been increasing concern over heavy metal pollution remediation. However, most research focused on the individual remediation technologies for heavy metal pollutants in either soil or water. Considering the potential migration of these pollutants, it is necessary to explore effective integrated remediation technologies for soil and water heavy metals. This review thoroughly examines non-phytoremediation technologies likes physical, chemical, and microbial remediation, as well as green remediation approaches involving terrestrial and aquatic phytoremediation. Non-phytoremediation technologies suffer from disadvantages like high costs, secondary pollution risks, and susceptibility to environmental factors. Conversely, phytoremediation technologies have gained significant attention due to their sustainable and environmentally friendly nature. Enhancements through chelating agents, biochar, microorganisms, and genetic engineering have demonstrated improved phytoremediation remediation efficiency. However, it is essential to address the environmental and ecological risks that may arise from the prolonged utilization of these materials and technologies. Lastly, this paper presents an overview of integrated remediation approaches for addressing heavy metal contamination in groundwater-soil-surface water systems and discusses the reasons for the research gaps and future directions. This paper offers valuable insights for comprehensive solutions to heavy metal pollution in water and soil, promoting integrated remediation and sustainable development.

Application of apatite particles for remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater: A review and perspectives

With rapid industrial development and population growth, the pollution of soil and groundwater has become a critical concern all over the world. Yet, remediation of contaminated soil and water remains a major challenge. In recent years, apatite has gained a surging interest in environmental remediation because of its high treatment efficiency, low cost, and environmental benignity. This review summarizes recent advances in: (1) natural apatite of phosphate ores and biological source; (2) synthesis of engineered apatite particles (including stabilized or surface-modified apatite nanoparticles); (3) treatment effectiveness of apatite towards various environmental pollutants in soil and groundwater, including heavy metals (e.g., Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ni), inorganic anions (e.g., As oxyanions and F-), radionuclides (e.g., thorium (Th), strontium (Sr), and uranium (U)), and organic pollutants (e.g., antibiotics, dyes, and pesticides); and (4) the removal and/or interaction mechanisms of apatite towards the different contaminants. Lastly, the knowledge or technology gaps are identified and future research needs are proposed.

Coal gangue-based magnetic porous material for simultaneous remediation of arsenic and cadmium in contaminated soils: Performance and mechanisms

Remediation of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) co-contaminated soil is a challenge in environmental remediation. In this study, coal gangue-based magnetic porous material (MPCG) was designed for simultaneous immobilization of As and Cd in contaminated soil. After the incubation experiment, the effects of CG and MPCG on the availability and fractions of As and Cd and the related microbial functional genes were analyzed to explore the potential remediation mechanisms of MPCG for As and Cd in contaminated soil. The results showed that the stabilization effect of MPCG on As and Cd was significantly higher than that of coal gangue. It reduced the available As and Cd by 17.94-29.81% and 14.22-30.41%, respectively, and transformed unstable As/Cd to stable. The remediation mechanisms of MPCG on As included adsorption, oxidation, complexation and precipitation/co-precipitation. Meanwhile, the remediation mechanisms of MPCG for Cd included adsorption, ion exchange, complexation and precipitation. In addition, MPCG increases the abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (dsrA) by 43.39-381.28%, which can promote sulfate reduction. The sulfide can precipitate with As and Cd to reduce the availability of As and Cd in soil. Thus, MPCG is a promising amendment for achieving the remediation of As and Cd co-contaminated soil.

Inoculation of Exogenous Complex Bacteria to Enhance Resistance in Alfalfa and Combined Remediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

Heavy metals are considered to be one of the main sources of soil contamination. In this study, three tolerant bacteria were isolated from the heavy metal-contaminated soil in mining area, and immobilized bacteria were constructed using corn straw as the carrier. The combined remediation effect of immobilized bacteria and alfalfa in pot experiments was explored in heavy metal-contaminated soil. Under heavy metal stress, inoculation with immobilized bacteria significantly promoted the growth of alfalfa, in which the dry weights of roots, stems, and leaves increased by 19.8, 6.89, and 14.6%, respectively (P < 0.05). Also, inoculation with immobilized bacteria improved the antioxidant capacity of plants and the activity of soil enzymes and improved soil quality (P < 0.05). Microbial-phytoremediation technology effectively reduced the heavy metal content in the soil, and can restore the soil contaminated by heavy metals. The results will help to further understand the mechanism of microbial inoculation to reduce the toxicity of heavy metals, and provide guidance for the cultivation of forage grasses in heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Phosphorus-Enhanced and Calcium-Retarded Transport of Ferrihydrite Colloid: Mechanism of Electrostatic Potential Changes Regulated via Adsorption Speciation

The transport of ferrihydrite colloid (FHC) through porous media is influenced by anions (e.g., PO₄^3-) and cations (e.g., Ca²⁺) in the aqueous environment. This study investigated the cotransport of FHC with P and P/Ca in saturated sand columns. The results showed that P adsorption enhanced FHC transport, whereas Ca loaded onto P-FHC retarded FHC transport. Phosphate adsorption provided a negative potential on the FHC, while Ca added to P-FHC led to electrostatic screening, compression of the electric double layer, and formation of Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH followed by heteroaggregation at pH ≥ 6.0. The monodentate and bidentate P surface complexes coexisted, and Ca mainly formed a ternary complex with bidentate P (≡(FeO)₂PO₂Ca). The unprotonation bidentate P at the Stern 1-plane had a considerable negative potential at the Van der Waals molecular surface. Extending the potential effect to the outer layer of FHC, the potential at the Stern 2-plane and zeta potential exhibited a corresponding change, resulting in a change in FHC mobility, which was validated by comparison of experimental results, DFT calculations, and CD-MUSIC models. Our results highlighted the influence of P and Ca on FHC transport and elucidated their interaction mechanisms based on quantum chemistry and colloidal chemical interface reactions.

Heavy metal stabilization remediation in polluted soils with stabilizing materials: a review

The remediation of soil contaminated by heavy metals has long been a concern of academics. This is due to the fact that heavy metals discharged into the environment as a result of natural and anthropogenic activities may have detrimental consequences for human health, the ecological environment, the economy, and society. Metal stabilization has received considerable attention and has shown to be a promising soil remediation option among the several techniques for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. This review discusses various stabilizing materials, including inorganic materials like clay minerals, phosphorus-containing materials, calcium silicon materials, metals, and metal oxides, as well as organic materials like manure, municipal solid waste, and biochar, for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Through diverse remediation processes such as adsorption, complexation, precipitation, and redox reactions, these additives efficiently limit the biological effectiveness of heavy metals in soils. It should also be emphasized that the effectiveness of metal stabilization is influenced by soil pH, organic matter content, amendment type and dosage, heavy metal species and contamination level, and plant variety. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of heavy metal stabilization based on soil physicochemical properties, heavy metal morphology, and bioactivity has also been provided. At the same time, it is critical to assess the stability and timeliness of the heavy metals' long-term remedial effect. Finally, the priority should be on developing novel, efficient, environmentally friendly, and economically feasible stabilizing agents, as well as establishing a systematic assessment method and criteria for analyzing their long-term effects.

Falsochrobactrum&nbsp;tianjinense sp. nov., a New Petroleum-Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Oily Soils

The microbial remediation technology had great potential and attracted attention to total petroleum hydrocarbon pollution (TPH) remediation, but its efficiency is limited by its application in the field. In this study, a new TPH-degrading strain, TDYN1, was isolated from contaminated oil soil in Dagang Oilfield in Tianjin, China, and identified as Falsochrobactrum sp. by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The physiological characterization of the isolate was observed. The orthogonal experiment was carried out for the optimum degradation conditions to improve its biodegradation efficiency. The strain was the gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, designated Falsochrobactrum tianjinense sp. nov (strain TDYN1); it had 3.51 Mb, and the DNA G + C content of the strain was 56.0%. The degradation rate of TDYN1 was 69.95% after 7 days of culture in optimal degradation conditions (temperature = 30 °C, pH = 8, salinity = 10 g L^-1, petroleum concentration = 1 g L^-1, and the inoculation dose of strain TDYN1 = 6%) and also reached more than 30% under other relatively extreme conditions. It suggested that the TDYN1 has great potential for TPH remediation in the soils of North China.

Assessment of goethite-combined/modified biochar for cadmium and arsenic remediation in alkaline paddy soil

The opposed transformation of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in paddy soil postures numerous challenges for their simultaneous remediation. An incubation study was conducted on the immobilization of Cd and As by biochar (BC), goethite (G), goethite-combined biochar (BC + G), and goethite-modified biochar (GBC). The results showed that biochar effectively immobilized Cd while significantly increasing As mobility, whereas goethite effectively immobilized As more than Cd. BC + G treatment significantly decreased toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) and CaCl₂-extractable Cd by 22.70% and 40.15%; meanwhile, TCLP and NaHCO₃-As were significantly reduced by 38.25% and 31.87%, respectively, compared with the control. This study found that GBC was the optimum amendment within the immobilization efficiency for CaCl₂-Cd (57.03%) and TCLP-As (61.11%). BC + G and GBC applications showed some interactions between biochar and goethite, which played an essential role in immobilizing Cd and As simultaneously. Therefore, GBC showed a great benefit in being a low-cost and efficient environmental amendment for Cd and As remediation in alkaline co-contaminated paddy soil.

Antimony Immobilization in Primary-Explosives-Contaminated Soils by Fe-Al-Based Amendments

Soils at primary explosives sites have been contaminated by high concentrations of antimony (Sb) and co-occurring heavy metals (Cu and Zn), and are largely overlooked and neglected. In this study, we investigated Sb concentrations and species and studied the effect of combined Fe- and Fe-Al-based sorbent application on the mobility of Sb and co-occurring metals. The content of Sb in soil samples varied from 26.7 to 4255.0 mg/kg. In batch experiments, FeSO4 showed ideal Sb sorption (up to 97% sorption with 10% FeSO4·7H2O), whereas the sorptions of 10% Fe0 and 10% goethite were 72% and 41%, respectively. However, Fe-based sorbents enhanced the mobility of co-occurring Cu and Zn to varying levels, especially FeSO4·7H2O. Al(OH)3 was required to prevent Cu and Zn mobilization. In this study, 5% FeSO4·7H2O and 4% Al(OH)3 mixed with soil was the optimal combination to solve this problem, with Sb, Zn, and Cu stabilizations of 94.6%, 74.2%, and 82.2%, respectively. Column tests spiked with 5% FeSO4·7H2O, and 4% Al(OH)3 showed significant Sb (85.85%), Zn (83.9%), and Cu (94.8%) retention. The pH-regulated results indicated that acid conditioning improved Sb retention under alkaline conditions. However, no significant difference was found between the acidification sets and those without pH regulation. The experimental results showed that 5% FeSO4·7H2O + 4% Al(OH)3 without pH regulation was effective for the stabilization of Sb and co-occurring metals in primary explosive soils.

Remediation of arsenic-contaminated paddy soil by iron oxyhydroxide and iron oxyhydroxide sulfate-modified coal gangue under flooded condition

Flooded condition enhances arsenic (As) mobility in paddy soils, posing an imminent threat to food safety and human health. Hence, iron oxyhydroxide and iron oxyhydroxide sulfate-modified coal gangue (CG-FeOH and CG-FeOS) were synthesized for remediation of As-contaminated paddy soils under a flooded condition. Compared to the control, CG-FeOH and CG-FeOS application decreased the soil pH by 0.10-0.80 and 0.13-1.63 units, respectively. CG-FeOH and CG-FeOS application significantly (P < 0.05) decreased available As concentration by 13.46-43.44% and 21.31-54.37%, respectively. CG-FeOH and CG-FeOS significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the non-specifically adsorbed and specifically adsorbed As fractions and increased As(V) proportion by 22.61-26.53% and 29.10-36.51%, respectively. Our results showed that CG-FeOH and CG-FeOS could change As geochemical fraction and valence state, consequently reducing available As concentration in paddy soils. Moreover, the sulfate could enhance the oxidation and co-precipitation of As with CG-FeOH. Compared to CG-FeOH, CG-FeOS was more effective in decreasing available As concentration and oxidizing As(III) to As(V). This study revealed that CG-FeOS is a potential amendment for As immobilization in paddy soils.

Effects of iron plaque and fatty acids on the transfer of BDE-209 from soil to rice under iron mineral Fenton-like oxidation condition

To understand the effect mechanisms of iron plaque and fatty acids on the migration of PBDEs from soil to rice (Oryza sativa), pot experiments were conducted in the soil spiked with decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) under the conditions of tourmaline and nano-goethite Fenton-like treatments. The results showed that iron mineral Fenton-like oxidation could effectively remove BDE-209 from rhizosphere soil, the highest removal rate obtained 89.29% with the addition of 0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂ and 8 g nano-goethite (G + 3H group). Iron mineral Fenton-like oxidation could produce iron plaque (IP) on rice roots and accumulate a part of contaminants on the surface of IP, further weakening BDE-209 uptake in the plants. Additionally, the occurrence of fatty acid variation induced by BDE-209 stress, iron mineral Fenton-like oxidation at high concentrations of H₂O₂ with 0.4 mmol/L affected the distribution of fatty acids in plant tissues, especially for C_18:0 fatty acid. While the IP on rice roots prevented the BDE-209 into plant, it was also closely related to the distribution of fatty acids in rice, altering BDE-209 accumulation in the rice. To safely use the iron mineral Fenton-like oxidation in the agricultural soil remediation, the safety of plant cells treated by mineral Fenton-like oxidation was evaluated using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and enzyme activity determination, which indicated that iron mineral Fenton-like oxidation would destroy the inner structures of plant cells, especially for G + 3H group.

The effects of non-stabilised and Na-carboxymethylcellulose-stabilised iron oxide nanoparticles on remediation of Co-contaminated soils

A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of six types of non-stabilised and Na-carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-stabilised iron oxide nanoparticles (α-FeOOH, α-Fe₂O₃, and Fe₃O₄) on the immobilisation of cobalt (Co) in a soil spiked with different concentrations of it (5, 25, 65, 125, 185 mg kg^-1). Amendments were added to soil samples at the rate of 0.5%, and the samples incubated for 60-days. The addition of amendments significantly decreased the concentrations of DTPA-Co and MgCl₂-Co, compared with the unamended control. The highest decrease in concentration of DTPA-Co and MgCl₂-Co was obtained by the application of CMC-stabilised Fe₃O₄ (MC) when the concentration of soil total Co was low (5 and 25 mg kg^-1) and by the use of CMC-stabilised α-FeOOH (GC) when the concentration of soil total Co was high (65, 125, and 185 mg kg^-1), as compared to the control. CMC-stabilised iron oxide nanoparticles were more effective than non-stabilised nanoparticles in the immobilisation of Co. To investigate the effectiveness of iron oxide amendments on the chemical species of Co in the soil spiked with 65 mg kg^-1 of this metal, sequential extraction was performed. The concentration of EXCH (exchangeable) and CARB (carbonate) bound fractions decreased significantly after treatment by different amendments. In particular, GC reduced the concentration of EXCH and CARB bound fractions by 20.87, and 17.52%, respectively, compared with the control. Also amendments significantly increased the concentration of FeMn-OX (Fe-Mn oxides), and OM (organic matter) bound, and RES (residual) fractions.

Effects of hematite on the stabilization of copper, cadmium and phosphorus in a contaminated red soil amended with hydroxyapatite

Iron (Fe) oxides are intimately coupled with phosphorus and closely associated with the bioavailability of potential toxic elements (PTEs) in soil. Thus, Fe oxides may influence the stabilization of PTEs in contaminated soils amended by phosphorus. To evaluate the effects of hematite (HMT) on the stabilization of PTEs, 1-5% (by weight) of HMT was added into a contaminated red soil amended with hydroxyapatite (HAP) to simulate naturally occurring Fe oxides. The stabilization efficiencies of soil copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) amended with HAP in soils with low, moderate, and high content of HMT were assessed after a 60-day incubation. HAP treated the soil with high rate HMT decreased the CaCl₂-extractable and acid-soluble fractions of Cu and Cd than that of HAP alone. In particular, CaCl₂-extactable Cu and Cd in the soil with 5% HMT amended by HAP were 91-95% and 41-68% lower than those amended with only HAP. High content of HMT in soil could decrease the concentration of labile phosphorus in the presence of HAP, but it did not increase the concentration of NaOH-extractable inorganic phosphorus (the fraction bound to Fe oxides). The concentrations of free and crystalline Fe oxides were significantly increased by adding high dosages of HMT with or without HAP. High content of HMT in soil amended by HAP reduced metal phytotoxicity and uptake by wheat shoots than the soil containing HAP without HMT. The results indicate that HMT can promote Cu and Cd stabilization while decrease labile phosphorus in red soil amended with HAP, suggesting that phosphorus-based amendments combined with Fe oxides can be used to stabilize PTEs in contaminated red soils.

Hematite enhances the immobilization of copper, cadmium and phosphorus in soil amended with hydroxyapatite under flooded conditions

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is often applied as chemical amendment in soils contaminated with trace metals such as copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). Large amounts of iron oxides in red soil may interacts with phosphate released from HA and influence trace metal immobilization of HA. Here we simulated a red paddy soil with 1-5% wt iron oxides by adding hematite and evaluated the Cu and Cd availability in soil amended with HA under flooded conditions. Changes in phosphorus and iron oxide fractions were also evaluated after a 42-day flooding incubation experiment. Results showed that the addition of HA-only and hematite-only decreased soil redox potential and increased pore water pH compared to the control. HA combined with hematite could effectively decrease phosphate, Cu and Cd in soil pore water compared to HA-only. Additionally, HA combined with hematite could also increase soil pH and decrease soil CaCl₂-extractable Cu and Cd. In particular, HA combined with 5% hematite was most effective in reducing soil exchangeable fractions of Cu and Cd by 53.7% and 65.6% compared to the control, respectively. The addition of HA-only increased water-soluble phosphorus, NaHCO₃-extractable inorganic phosphorus, NaOH-extractable inorganic phosphorus, and HCl-extractable phosphorus. Conversely, HA combined with hematite treatments decreased NaHCO₃-extractable inorganic phosphorus by 11.3-43.0% compared to HA-only. Vivianite and metal-phosphate precipitates were not observed using the Visual MINTEQ model, X-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis. The addition of hematite with or without HA increased free and crystal iron oxide fractions, while it substantially enhanced amorphous iron oxides in the soil. Thus, this study indicates that soil with high hematite content could enhance Cu and Cd immobilization while decreasing phosphorus availability in the red paddy soil amended with HA under the flooded conditions.

Rapid quantitative analysis of Hg2+ residue in dairy products using SERS coupled with ACO-BP-AdaBoost algorithm

In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with multivariate calibrations were employed to develop a rapid, simple and sensitive method for determination of mercury ions residues in dairy products. Initially, spherical Au@SiO₂ core shell nanoparticles with highly enhancement effect were synthesized to serve as the SERS substrate. Afterwards, an optical sensor system, namely micro-Raman spectroscopy system, was constructed for rapid acquisition of Au@SiO₂-mercury ions spectra. Then, ant colony optimization (ACO) and genetic algorithm (GA) were applied comparatively for selecting the characteristic variables from the Savitzky Golay-First derivative (SG-FD) processing data for subsequent quantitative analysis. Eventually, both linear (PLS and SW-MLR) and nonlinear (BPANN and BP-AdaBoost) methods were used for modeling. Experimental results showed that the variables selection methods significantly improved the model performance. Especially for the ACO algorithm, and the ACO-BP-AdaBoost model achieved the best results with the higher correlation coefficient of determination (R² = 0.997), and lower root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP = 0.092) than other quantification models. Paired sample t-test exhibited no statistically significant difference (sig > 0.05) between the reference concentrations determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the predicted concentrations by ACO-BP-AdaBoost model in adulterated foodstuffs.

Competitive redox reaction of Au-NCs/MnO2 nanocomposite: Toward colorimetric and fluorometric detection of acid phosphatase as an indicator of soil cadmium contamination

In this study, by rational regulating the competitive redox reaction of Au-NCs/MnO₂ nanocomposite between the dye indigo carmine (IC) and the enzymatic product L-ascorbic acid (AA), we have established a colorimetric and fluorometric double-channel responsive assay for acid phosphatase (ACP), which could serve as an indicator of soil cadmium (Cd) contamination. Initially, the gold nanoclusters (Au-NCs) were added to the suspension of MnO₂ nanosheets to form Au-NCs/MnO₂ nanocomposite with enhanced oxidative degradation ability. When IC was subsequently added, the blue color of IC faded due to oxidative degradation, and the mixture showed the yellow color of Au-NCs/MnO₂ nanocomposite. Meanwhile, based on the inner filter effect (IFE), the fluorescence of Au-NCs was suppressed by MnO₂ nanosheets during this process. However, with the presence of AA, hydrolyzed from L-ascorbic-2-phosphate (AAP) by ACP, the MnO₂ nanosheets in Au-NCs/MnO₂ nanocomposite were reduced to Mn²⁺ immediately. As a consequence, IC remained its blue color, in the meantime, the fluorescence of Au-NCs recovered, which essentially constituted a new mechanism for ACP detection with colorimetric and fluorometric double-channel response. With the method we developed, soil ACP activity can either be directly visualized by bare eyes or detected reliably through double channels. Furthermore, the dynamic changes of ACP activity during soil Cd contamination could also be monitored; the sharp increase of ACP activity at an appropriate time point could serve as a unique alarm for cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil, which is of great importance for soil quality evaluation and ecological risk assessment.

Effect of humic acid on the stabilization of cadmium in soil by coprecipitating with ferrihydrite

Coprecipitation of humic acid (HA) with ferrihydrite (Fh) has been proposed to reduce the activity of heavy metals in aqueous solutions. The effect of the amount of HA added to the coprecipitates on the stabilization of Cd in soil is unclear. In this research, five different Fh-HA coprecipitates were synthesized to study the impact of different HA additions on the fractionation of Cd in the soil and the optimal addition ratio of C/Fe. Characterization technique as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area analyzer, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used in order to test and analyze of the microstructure and physicochemical property of the coprecipitates. The results showed that the Fh-HA coprecipitate is mainly combined by the coordination exchange of -OH on the surface of the Fh with the carboxyl group of the HA. Adding HA could stabilize Fh and increase its surface roughness. Changes in the fractionation of the Cd were used to evaluate the stabilization effect of the coprecipitate. Before treatment, Cd in different contaminated soils was existed only a small amount of residual fraction. After the addition of the Fh-HA coprecipitate, the proportion of residual Cd in each contaminated soil increased. When the C/Fe ratio was 1.5, the maximum residual fraction were 62.94%, 55.67%, and 52.99% respectively. Residual Cd could remain relatively stable indicating that the Fh-HA coprecipitate is a promising amendment for repairing Cd-contaminated soil. The addition of HA has strengthened the active role of Fh on stabilizing heavy metals.

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by petroleum-degrading bacteria immobilized on biochar

Biochar is investigated experimentally as a new highly effective amendment to remediate contaminated soil. A crucial consideration is the influence of biochar on the bioremediation of soil polluted with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), and in particular, the use of biochar as a bacteria immobilization carrier with a synergistic effect of absorption and degradation. Therefore, we studied the ability of petroleum-degrading bacteria immobilized on biochar, free bacteria, and biochar alone on the removal of TPHs in soil using gravimetric analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After 60 days of remediation, the strategy involving immobilized bacteria on biochar was more effective than other treatments in reducing the contents of TPHs and n-alkanes with C_12–18, which showed the shortest half-life and highest biodegradation efficiency; variations in the features of enzymatic activities and microbial respiration indicated that the biochar treatment improved not only the soil fertilizer and carbon storage, but the immobilization greatly affected both the physicochemical properties of soil and bacterial activities. Moreover, the bacterial population diversity and bioavailability of hydrocarbons were promoted by the inputs of the combination of biochar and petroleum-degrading bacteria. Overall, our results highlight the potential of applying immobilized microorganisms on biochar for accelerating the biodegradation of petroleum and maintaining the balance of the soil ecosystem, which may be ascribed to the synergistic effect of biostimulation and bioaugmentation.

The immobilization of bacteria on biochar was effective in reducing TPHs, n-alkanes with C_12–18 and maintaining the balance of the soil ecosystem.

Adsorption of U(VI) ions from aqueous solution using nanogoethite powder

Goethite is a stable and widespread mineral present in soil with many uses, and it affects the transportation and immobilization of heavy metals in solution. Nanogoethite was synthesized by a chemical precipitation method and used to batch adsorb U(VI) in solution. Adsorption experiments were used to understand the role of nanogoethite in controlling the U(VI) adsorption behavior in soil. The morphology and the crystallinity of nanogoethite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and wide-angle X-ray powder diffractometry, respectively. The results showed that the crystallinity of nanogoethite after the adsorption of uranium did not change, but small particles appeared on the surface of the scales. The surface area was determined from N2 adsorption–desorption experiments using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller to be 81.86 m2/g. The effects of factors such as the contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and the initial concentration of uranium on the adsorption of U(VI) were investigated. The experimental results showed that nanogoethite removed over 85% of the U(VI) in an aqueous 5.0 mg/L U(VI) solution at pH 4.0 and at 298 K. The pseudo-second-order model was used to simulate the adsorption process. The results show that chemisorption plays a major role in the adsorption process. The results of this study suggest that nanogoethite may play a significant role in controlling the migration and transfer of U(VI) in the soil, thus controlling the presence of U(VI) in soil.