Effect of steam activated biochar application to industrially contaminated soils on bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ecotoxicity of soils.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of steam activation of biochars on the immobilization of freely dissolved (Cfree) and bioaccessible fraction (Cbioacc) of PAHs in soils. Additionally, the toxicity to various organisms like Vibrio fischeri, Lepidium sativum and Folsomia candida was measured before and after the amendment of biochars to soils. Three biochars produced from willow, coconut and wheat straw were steam activated and added to three different soils with varying content and origin of PAHs (coke vs. bitumen). The soils with the addition of the biochars (activated and non-activated) were incubated for a period of 60days. Steam activation of the biochars resulted in more pronounced reduction of both Cfree and Cbioacc. The range of the increase in effectiveness was from 10 to 84% for Cfree and from 50 to 99% for Cbioacc. In contrast, the effect of activation on the toxicity of the soils studied varied greatly and was specific to a particular test and soil type. Essentially, biochar activation did not result in a change of phytotoxicity, but it increased or decreased (depending on the parameter, type of biochar, contaminant source, and soil and soil type) the toxic effect to F. candida, and decreased the toxicity of leachates to V. fischeri.
Department of Environmental Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 3 Maria Curie-Skłodowska Square, 20-031 Lublin, Poland.
Michał
M
Kołtowski
Agroscope Institute for Sustainability Sciences ISS, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland.
Isabel
I
Hilber
Agroscope Institute for Sustainability Sciences ISS, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland.
Thomas D
TD
Bucheli
Department of Environmental Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 3 Maria Curie-Skłodowska Square, 20-031 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: patryk.oleszczuk@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl.
Patryk
P
Oleszczuk
D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000187:drug effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001682:Biological Availability; D002606:Charcoal / Q000032:analysis*; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry; D031220:Lepidium sativum / Q000187:drug effects; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D032108:Salix / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D013227:Steam; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013227:Steam; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
Activation; Bioaccessibility; Biochar; Contamination; Remediation; Soil amendment