Field experiments to assess the remediation efficiency of metal-contaminated soil by flushing with ferric chloride followed by applying amendments

Abstract

The Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn removal efficiencies achieved by flushing with FeCl3 were determined in a field experiment using soil contaminated with multiple metals. Soil was first flushed with FeCl3 and then with FeCl3 or a mixture of chelators. Flushed soil was amended with lime and organic matter to revitalize the soil, then the soil was used to grow Zea mays and Brassica juncea. The heavy metal concentrations in groundwater were determined to assess the risks of leaching caused by soil flushing. The Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn removal efficiencies were 70%, 40%, 33%, and 17%, respectively, when FeCl3 (25 mmol (kg topsoil)−1) was applied. The second washing generally did not significantly decrease the heavy metal contents of the soil but the second FeCl3 washing did decrease the Pb content. Pb leached from topsoil was partly retained by the subsoil 20–40 cm deep. The Zea mays yields were significantly lower but the Brassica juncea yields were significantly higher after the combined soil flushing and amendment treatment than after only the amendment treatment. This indicated that soil flushing only negatively affected growth of deep-rooted Z. mays. The Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in Z. mays grains and the edible parts of B. juncea grown in remediated soil were below the Chinese tolerable limits for contaminants in food. Washing with FeCl3 did not increase groundwater contamination during the study. The results indicated that flushing soil with FeCl3 and subsequent amendments is a technically feasible method for remediating agricultural soil contaminated with Cd.