Sustainable Immobilization of Cadmium, Lead, and Arsenic in Contaminated Soils Using Iron–Phosphorus–Thiol-Functionalized Trachycarpus fortunei Hydrochar

Kun Ouyang, Kai Li, Yigui Tang, Haodi Yang, Xuanren Chen, Qian Li, Ping You, Rui Zhou, Ping Ning () and Shuangyou Bao ()
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Kun Ouyang: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Kai Li: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Yigui Tang: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Haodi Yang: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Xuanren Chen: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Qian Li: Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., Changsha 410100, China
Ping You: Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., Changsha 410100, China
Rui Zhou: Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., Changsha 410100, China
Ping Ning: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Shuangyou Bao: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Simultaneously stabilizing cadmium, lead, and arsenic in contaminated soils is challenging due to their significant differences in physical and chemical properties. This study developed a composite material by modifying hydrochar with iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) to address this issue. The iron–phosphorus–thiol-modified Trachycarpus fortunei hydrochar (H-PAL-Fe2-P-T) effectively stabilized these metals. Experimental results showed that the H-PAL-Fe2-P-T achieved over 90% stabilization for DTPA-extracted cadmium, lead, and arsenic. Characterization by XRD, SEM, and FTIR revealed structural and functional changes in the hydrochar. Column leaching tests simulating acid rain showed that the composite material maintained stable stabilization effects, with the fluctuations in the stabilization rates remaining below 20%. Additionally, the composite-modified hydrochar enhanced the stabilization of water-soluble, DTPA-extracted, and TCLP-extracted heavy metals in soil, demonstrating good stability and durability for long-term use. These findings suggest that Fe-, P-, and S-modified hydrochar is a promising and sustainable approach for the remediation of soils contaminated with cadmium, lead, and arsenic.

Keywords: heavy metals; H-PAL-Fe2-P-T; modification; soils; sustainable remediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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