Remediation potential of magnetic biochar in lead smelting sites: Insight from the complexation of dissolved organic matter with potentially toxic elements

Wenshun Ke; Zheng Liu; Feng Zhu; Yi Xie; William Hartley; Xue Li; Huan Wu; Shengguo Xue

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118556

Remediation potential of magnetic biochar in lead smelting sites: Insight from the complexation of dissolved organic matter with potentially toxic elements

J Environ Manage. 2023 Oct 15:344:118556. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118556. Epub 2023 Jul 14.

Authors

Wenshun Ke¹, Zheng Liu², Feng Zhu³, Yi Xie⁴, William Hartley⁵, Xue Li⁶, Huan Wu⁷, Shengguo Xue⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
² School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; BGI Engineering Consultants Ltd., Beijing 100038, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ New World Environment Protection Group of Hunan, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 37453302
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118556

Abstract

Magnetic biochar has been widely used in potentially toxic elements (PTEs) polluted soils due to its magnetic separation capability and synchronous immobilization for multiple metals. However, the contribution of magnetic biochar to soil dissolve organic material (SDOM) and its binding behavior with PTEs needs to be further clarified prior to its remediation application on lead smelting sites. In this study, multi-spectral techniques of excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and two-dimensional FTIR correlation spectroscopy (2D-FTIR-COS) were used to explore the evolution characteristics of SDOM in the lead smelting site under the remediation of magnetic biochar, and to further analyze its affinity and binding behavior with Pb and As. Results showed that magnetic biochar significantly increased SDOM content and decreased Pb and As available content. EEM and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) and Self-Organizing map analysis showed that humus-like and aromatic DOM increased and microbial-derived SDOM decreased after magnetic biochar cultivation. Furthermore, 2D-FTIR-COS correlation spectroscopy analysis indicated that BDOM had a stronger binding affinity to Pb, while SDOM has a stronger binding affinity to As. The binding sequences of different DOMs to PTEs varied greatly, the carboxyl and amide groups of SDOM and BDOM showed a remarkable and rapid response. Our results enhance the insights of magnetic biochar on soil function and PTEs remediation potential, providing novel information for its environmental remediation application.

Keywords: DOM binding mechanism; Lead smelting sites; Potentially toxic elements; Self-organizing map; Spectral characteristics.

MeSH terms

Charcoal / chemistry
Dissolved Organic Matter*
Humic Substances / analysis
Lead*
Soil / chemistry
Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods

Substances

biochar
Dissolved Organic Matter
Lead
Charcoal
Soil
Humic Substances