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The remediation of hexavalent chromium-contaminated soil by nanoscale zero-valent iron supported on sludge-based biochar

  • Soils, Sec 1 • Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

This research investigates the capability of biochar (BC)–supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) composite (nZVI/BC) with strong adsorption and reduction properties for immobilization of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in Cr(VI)-polluted soil.

Methods

Liquid phase reduction method was used to prepare nZVI and nZVI/BC. Cr-contaminated soils were amended with BC, nZVI, and nZVI/BC. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP)–leachable Cr(Cr(VI)) was measured to evaluate the immobilization efficiency by three materials. The sequential extraction procedure (SEP) method was applied for Cr fraction analysis. The changes of soil properties and the reaction mechanism between Cr(VI) and nZVI/BC were also analyzed.

Results and discussion

NZVI/BC exhibited a superior capacity for reducing TCLP-leachable Cr(VI) than nZVI and BC. The fraction analysis suggested that nZVI/BC could effectively reduce the toxicity of Cr(VI) by promoting the transformation of more accessible forms (exchangeable (EX)) into less accessible forms (iron-manganese oxides-bound (OX)). Compared with nZVI, the addition of BC and nZVI/BC could improve soil properties during a short term. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that the redox reaction might be the main reaction mechanism between Cr(VI) and nZVI/BC.

Conclusion

NZVI/BC exhibited superior remediation capacity for Cr(VI)-polluted soil due to its high reduction and adsorption capacity. Moreover, those nano-particles could be recovered by magnetic separation after remediation process, and the recovery rate could reach more than 60%. Hence, nZVI/BC had a valuable utilization for the immobilization of Cr(VI) in soil.

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Data availability

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly due to privacy.

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Funding

This work was supported by The National Key Research and Development Project Subject (ZX20200121).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    ** Branch Center, Shenyang, 110006, China

    Hui Li

Authors
  1. ** Chen
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  2. Guangjian Fan
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  3. **aoxuan Zhu
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  4. Haibo Li
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  5. Yinghua Li
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  6. Hui Li
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  7. **nyang Xu
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by XZ, YL, and YL. The first draft of the manuscript was written by GF and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to **nyang Xu.

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Responsible editor: **long Wang.

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Chen, X., Fan, G., Zhu, X. et al. The remediation of hexavalent chromium-contaminated soil by nanoscale zero-valent iron supported on sludge-based biochar. J Soils Sediments 23, 1607–1616 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-023-03433-x

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