Effect of different direct revegetation strategies on the mobility of heavy metals in artificial zinc smelting waste slag: Implications for phytoremediation

Abstract

The establishment of vegetation cover is an important strategy to reduce wind and water erosion at metal smelting waste slag sites. However, the mobility of heavy metals in waste slag-vegetation-leachate systems after the application of revegetation strategies is still unclear. Large microcosm experiments were conducted for revegetation of waste slag for 98 d using combined amendments, i.e., phosphate rock and an organic waste coming from the anaerobic digestion of pig manure (named as biogas residue), and by single- and co-planted perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Trifolium repens (T. repens). The results showed that the application of biogas residue slightly increased the concentrations of Zn and Cd in the leachates; however, the establishment of plants could avoid the excessive leaching of heavy metals coming from the biogas residue. The bioavailability of Cu, Zn, and Cd slightly increased, but Pb bioavailability significantly decreased regardless of single- or co-planting patterns. Additionally, the bioavailability of Cu, Zn, and Cd in the waste slag revegetated with perennial ryegrass was lower than that in T. repens under the single-planting pattern. The change in the heavy metals bioavailability under different revegetation strategies was mainly due to the root-induced change in the pH and speciation of heavy metals in the waste slag. The application of biogas residue and phosphate rock tends to the immobilization of Pb. Heavy metals mainly accumulated in the underground parts of the two herbs, and the heavy metal contents in the underground parts of perennial ryegrass were higher than those in T. repens regardless of single- or co-planting patterns. The heavy metals accumulated in T. repens were lower than those in perennial ryegrass in the single-planting pattern. The bioaccumulation and transportation factors of the two herbs were extremely low. Thus, the two herbs are potential candidates for phytostabilization of zinc smelting waste slag sites.