Abstract
Since contamination of soil with cobalt disturbs the soil’s biological balance, various types of compounds are being sought that could be used to restore the homeostasis of contaminated soil. The aim of the study was to determine the use of a Bio.Zeo.S.01 zeolite and molecular sieve in restoring the microbiological and biochemical balance of soil contaminated with cobalt. Soil samples were contaminated with cobalt (CoCl2·6H2O) at 0, 20, 80 mg·kg−1, and a Bio.Zeo.S.01 zeolite and molecular sieve were introduced at 0 and 15 g·kg−1. The soils on which the experiment was conducted were loamy sand and sandy clay loam. The experiment was carried out in two series on soil with and without a crop sown in it. The multiplication of microorganisms and the soil enzymes’ activity were determined on days 25 and 50 (harvest) of the experiment, and the yield of the underground and above-ground parts of maize and chemical and physical properties of soil were determined on the day of harvest. It was found that the microorganisms’ multiplication, enzyme activity, and maize yield were significantly disturbed by the excess of cobalt in the soil regardless of the soil type. The zeolite Bio.Zeo.S.01 used in the study had a smaller impact on microorganisms and soil enzyme activity than the molecular sieve. Cobalt accumulated more in the roots than in the above-ground parts of maize. An addition of sorbents decreased the accumulation of cobalt in maize grown only on sandy clay loam.
Highlights
Sorbents are selective towards substances of a certain particle and adsorb smaller particles in dimensions
Cobalt is an essential microelement for soil microorganisms, excessive amounts can be toxic to them
The indices of the effects of heavy metal and sorbents on the biological properties of soil in this study, as well as the cobalt content and uptake by maize, provided the data on the effect of cobalt on soil quality. These results suggested that not every sorbent could be used to neutralize cobalt
Summary
Sorbents are selective towards substances of a certain particle and adsorb smaller particles in dimensions. The most numerous and the earliest discovered group of molecular sieves are zeolites, which are characterized by a crystalline and uniform pore structure [2] These materials have found great application in many areas of chemical technology in the separation and purification of mixtures, in environmental protection, as well as in catalysis. Ion exchange plays an important role in molecular sieves since it enables the use of zeolites in the processes of purification, water softening, and in the recovery of valuable metals [3]. They produce efficient active sites accessible to catalytic reagents. Zeolite catalysts exhibit specific selectivity due to the molecular sieve effect brought about by their high specific surface area, high durability, and regeneration capability [2]
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