XRD-Thermal Combined Analyses: An Approach to Evaluate the Potential of Phytoremediation, Phytomining, and Biochar Production

Dario Fancello, Jessica Scalco, Daniela Medas, Elisa Rodeghero, Annalisa Martucci, Carlo Meneghini and Giovanni De Giudici
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Dario Fancello: Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Jessica Scalco: Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Daniela Medas: Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Elisa Rodeghero: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy
Annalisa Martucci: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy
Carlo Meneghini: Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, 00146 Rome, Italy
Giovanni De Giudici: Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: A method for evaluating the potential of reuse of biomasses for economic purposes is here presented starting from a case study. Juncus acutus plants and rhizospheres were harvested from abandoned Zn–Pb mine areas of southwest Sardinia (Italy). Thermogravimetry and Differential Thermal analyses were performed to evaluate the temperatures at which significant reactions occur. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out on raw samples and on samples heated ex-situ (by a conventional diffractometer) or in-situ (by synchrotron-based diffraction). Raw samples mainly consist of quartz, phyllosilicates, and feldspars with minor amounts of sulfides, sulfates, and Fe, Pb, and Zn carbonates, concentrated in the rhizosphere. After heating, Zn and Fe oxides and willemite are observed in internal roots and stems, revealing the presence of these metals in the plant tissues. In-situ heating was less effective than ex-situ in revealing minor phases in organic samples, probably because the scarcity of oxygen within the sample holder did not allow the degradation of organic compounds and the oxidation of sulfides, resulting in a low quality XRD signal even if obtained with the high resolution ensured by a synchrotron light source. This method can be applied to plants from polluted sites for metal exploitation, and/or to biomasses from unpolluted sites for biochar production, since both applications take advantage of the knowledge of the minerals formed after heating.

Keywords: Juncus acutus; metal pollution; phytoremediation; conventional XRD; synchrotron-based XRD; thermal analyses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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