Abstract
In this study it was evaluated on a laboratory scale (microcosm), the possibility of using ammonium thiosulphate in assisted phytoextraction for the simultaneous removal of mercury and arsenic from multi- contaminated industrial soil. The species selected were Brassica juncea and Lupinus albus the addition of thiosulfate to the soil greatly promoted the uptake and translocation of both contaminants in the aerial parts of the plants. Mercury concentration in the aerial parts reached in B. juncea 120 mg/kg approximately 40 times the value of the control). The concentration of arsenic also increased significantly in the shoots of B. juncea (14.3 mg/kg), where the value in the control was negligible. Similar trends were obtained for L. albus The results confirmed the known positive effects of thiosulphate in increasing mercury bioavailability for plants, moreover they showed the ability of thiosulphate to mobilize arsenic and significantly to promote its uptake by plants. The increase of arsenic bioavailability, promoted by thiosulfate addition, could be attributed to the competition between arsenate and sulphate ions for the same active sites in the soil surfaces, with the release of arsenic in the soil solution. The use of thiosulfate appears to have great potential since it is a common fertilizer used to promote plant growth and is able to increase the uptake by plants of mercury and arsenic. The simultaneous increase of both contaminants uptake by plants, using a single additive, will provide new insights into the phytoextraction technology in terms of cost and time reduction.
Highlights
The phytoextraction of metals and metalloids has received significant attention as a non-impact environmentally safe remediation strategy for polluted soils
Clean-up procedures often involve excavation and landfills, there is an increasing demand for alternative technologies based on sustainable concepts which balance financial feasibility with the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity (USEPA, 2008)
Phytoextraction of metals was based on the use of metal hyperaccumulator plants, which are able to take up huge amounts of heavy metals in the aerial parts (Brooks, 1998)
Summary
The phytoextraction of metals and metalloids has received significant attention as a non-impact environmentally safe remediation strategy for polluted soils. In the case of contamination derived from more than one metal, a thorough investigation of the soil properties is essential, together with an accurate selection of the plant species. By carefully characterizing the soil, is it possible to determine the main components responsible for the mobility and bioavailability of the metals and metalloids (Petruzzelli et al, 2013, 2012). This knowledge is the key to select the best mobilizing agents to increase phytoextraction in those cases where contaminant bioavailability is low. The use of the same mobilizing agent to increase the bioavailability and plant uptake of both contaminants could be of great interest in the phytoextraction process by greatly reducing both time and costs
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