title: Influence of biochar application methods on the phytostabilization of a hydrophobic soil contaminated with lead and acid tar.
abstract: A hardwood biochar was examined for its potential use as an amendment to aid in the phytostabilization of a severely-contaminated soil at a former sulfuric acid recycling factory site. The soil, which has remained unvegetated for nearly a century, contained high pseudo-total concentrations of lead, arsenic and antimony and was both highly acidic and hydrophobic due to the presence of petroleum-based acid tar. Three application approaches were tested with 10 and 20% (vol/vol) biochar: Incorporation into soil, top-dressing on the surface, and layering within the soil. The results suggest that the homogeneous mixing of the hardwood biochar into soil would not promote the long-term restoration at this site due to its inherently low alkalinity relative to the very high net acidity of the existing soil. In contrast, surface application of biochar resulted in the most successful growth of Canada wild-rye grass by exploiting the properties inherent to biochar alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Buhl Hall, Woodland Road, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, United States. Electronic address: sedenborn@chatham.edu.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Edenborn
authors.affiliation: National Energy Technology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, United States.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Edenborn
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Buhl Hall, Woodland Road, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, United States.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Krynock
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Buhl Hall, Woodland Road, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, United States.
authors.forename: K L Zickefoose
authors.initials: KLZ
authors.lastname: Haug
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D008129:Lolium / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013638:Tars / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013638:Tars; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D007854:Lead
keywords: Acid petroleum tar; Canada wild-rye; Pennsylvania; Reclamation