Effects of Biochar-Derived Sewage Sludge on Heavy Metal Adsorption and Immobilization in Soils

Dan Zhou, Dan Liu, Fengxiang Gao, Mengke Li and Xianping Luo
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Dan Zhou: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
Dan Liu: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
Fengxiang Gao: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
Mengke Li: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
Xianping Luo: Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining & Metallurgy Environmental Pollution Control, Jangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge biochar on adsorption and mobility of Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn. Biochar (BC400) was produced via pyrolysis of municipal sewage sludge at 400 °C. Maximum adsorption capacities ( q m ) for Zn, Cr, Mn, and Cu were 5.905, 5.724, 5.681, and 5.342 mg·g ?1 , respectively, in the mono-metal solution and 2.475, 8.204, 1.01, and 5.415 mg·g ?1 , respectively, in the multi-metal solution. The adsorption capacities for Mn, Cu, and Zn decreased in the multi-metal solution due to competitive adsorption, whereas the capacity for Cr increased. Surface precipitation is an important mechanism in the sorption of these metals on BC400. The 360-day incubation experiment showed that BC400 application reduced metal mobility in contaminated soils, which was attributed to the substantial decreases in the acid-soluble fractions of Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn (72.20%, 70.38%, 50.43%, and 29.78%, respectively). Furthermore, the leaching experiment using simulated acid rain indicated that the addition of BC400 enhanced the acid buffer capacity of contaminated soil, and the concentration of Cr, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the leachate was lower than in untreated soil. Overall, this study indicates that sewage sludge biochar application reduces the mobility of heavy metal in co-contaminated soil, and this adsorption experiment is suitable for the evaluation of biochar properties for remediation.

Keywords: biochar; contamination soils; heavy metal; mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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