Immobilization of Cd and Pb in a contaminated acidic soil amended with hydroxyapatite, bentonite, and biochar

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the dynamic changes over time in the immobilization efficiency of hydroxyapatite, bentonite, and biochar for Cd and Pb co-contaminated soil given the potential remobilization of immobilized heavy metals for long-term stabilized soils. Hydroxyapatite, bentonite, and biochar were applied only once at 2.5% (w/w) of soil during a 5-year pot experiment with pepper-cabbage (Capsicum annuum L.-Brassica pekinensis) rotation. The dynamic changes of soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure)-, DTPA-, and PBET (simulated human gastric solution extraction)-Cd and Pb in soil, fractionation of Cd and Pb in soil, as well as the dynamic variations of bioaccessible Cd and Pb in vegetables were determined. The results indicated the application of hydroxyapatite, bentonite, and biochar significantly increased the proportion of residual fraction of Cd and Pb, and reduced the mobility, bioavailability, and bioaccessibility of Cd and Pb analyzed by TCLP, DTPA, and PBET, respectively. Moreover, the concentrations of TCLP-, DTPA-, and PBET-Cd and Pb gradually increased over time. The proportions of acid-extractable Cd and Pb in amended treatments in 2019 were higher than those in 2016. The increment for acid-extractable Cd fraction was 4.69%, 5.53%, and 4.19% in hydroxyapatite, bentonite, and biochar, respectively. While the increment for acid-extractable Pb fraction was 1.48%, 2.08%, and 1.91%, respectively. The bioaccessible Cd and Pb in pepper and cabbage significantly decreased after remediation while no remarkable changes were observed for Pb from 2017 to 2019. The three amendments were effective ameliorants for Cd and Pb co-contaminated acidic soil, but the immobilization efficiency decreased over time. Moreover, hydroxyapatite showed the highest efficiency on metal stabilization and vegetable safety.