Soil science
M. Malehmir Chegini; AHMAD GOLCHIN
Abstract
Introduction
Soil contamination with heavy metals significantly threatens both environmental and human health. Anthropogenic activities, including chemical fertilizers and pesticides, industrial processes, wastewater disposal, and mining, contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil. Plants ...
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Introduction
Soil contamination with heavy metals significantly threatens both environmental and human health. Anthropogenic activities, including chemical fertilizers and pesticides, industrial processes, wastewater disposal, and mining, contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in soil. Plants can then taken up these contaminants and enter the food chain, causing various health problems. Soil amendments such as biochar and activated carbon offer a promising strategy for reducing the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in soil. This study investigated the effectiveness of biochar and activated carbon derived from organic waste materials (wheat straw, walnut shells, and almond shells) in immobilizing lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) and promoting corn (Zea mays. L.) growth in a greenhouse setting using contaminated soil.
Materials and Methods
Three types of organic waste wheat straw, walnut shells and almond shells were pyrolyzed at two temperatures (300 °C and 500 °C) under oxygen-free conditions for two hours to produce six types of biochar. The resulting biochars were then activated with phosphoric acid at their respective production temperatures, yielding six types of activated carbon. These organic waste materials, biochar, and activated carbons were added to soil contaminated with lead, zinc and cadmium at four application rates (0, 2.5, 5, and 10% by weight) in triplicate, 4.5 Kg Pot-1. The pots were incubated for one month under controlled temperature and humidity to achieve a relative equilibrium. Following incubation, the concentration of available heavy metals in the treated and control soils was measured. Corn was then planted in the pots, and at the end of the growth period, plant growth parameters (dry weight of shoots and roots) and heavy metal concentrations in plant tissues were determined. The data were analyzed using a completely randomized factorial design, and treatment means were compared to each other and the control.
Results and Discussion
Increasing pyrolysis temperature resulted in increased biochar pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and ash content, while the percentage of organic carbon, C/N ratio, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) decreased. Activation with phosphoric acid lowered the pH, ash content, EC, and organic carbon content of the biochars, while increasing their CEC. Amending the soil with biochar significantly increased soil pH and EC, whereas activated carbon amendments decreased these parameters. All amendments (organic waste, biochar, and activated carbon) significantly reduced the concentration of available heavy metals in the soil. Activated carbon had the greatest effect on immobilization, while organic waste had the least. The lowest concentrations of lead, cadmium, and zinc extractable with DTPA were observed with the 500°C activated carbon derived from wheat straw at a 10% application rate, with values of 1.6, 4.5, and 464 mg kg-1 soil, respectively, representing reductions of 99.46%, 83.67%, and 63.96% compared to the control treatment. This treatment also resulted in the lowest heavy metal concentrations in both the aerial parts and roots of the corn plants. Specifically, the lowest concentrations of lead, zinc, and cadmium in the aerial parts were 71.67, 490.67, and 1.67 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively, while in the roots, they were 206, 1095, and 20 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively. The highest dry weights of the aerial parts and roots were also observed with this treatment and a 5% application rate, with values of 5.76 and 1.84 grams per pot, respectively. The lowest concentration of heavy metals in corn tissues was observed in treatments with activated carbon produced at 500 °C and applied at a rate of 10%.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that activated carbon derived from organic waste materials can be an effective and sustainable method for remediating soil contaminated with heavy metals and promoting plant growth. However, the presence of detectable heavy metals in corn tissues following activated carbon application suggests that this approach may be best suited for soils with low to moderate contamination levels.
Soil science
J. Sadeghi; A. Lakzian; A. Halajnia; M. Alikhani Moghaddam
Abstract
Introduction
The rapid growth of technology, industry, and development of cities has led to an increase in heavy metal pollution in freshwater sources and greywater across the world. The use of different adsorbents in order to remove some heavy metals from aquatic environments is a topic that has been ...
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Introduction
The rapid growth of technology, industry, and development of cities has led to an increase in heavy metal pollution in freshwater sources and greywater across the world. The use of different adsorbents in order to remove some heavy metals from aquatic environments is a topic that has been addressed many times in different studies. However, the use of inexpensive absorbents with high adsorption capacity and high efficiency is the priority of many researchers especially when they are discussing the removal of heavy metals from the aquatic environment. Nanomaterials by having exceptional properties such as high efficiency of adsorption, high specific surface area, and fast adsorption can be used to remove metal pollutants from aquatic environments. Carbon dot (CD), among various nanomaterials (carbon-based nanomaterials (CNM), including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene) are suitable adsorbents for heavy metals removal due to their specific surface area and many binding sites. Carbon dots are nanoparticles that lack a specific dimension and fall under the category of carbon nanomaterials, measuring over 10 nm in size. They possess various qualities, including being environmentally friendly, simple to create, highly compatible with living organisms, stable, and capable of switching emission on and off based on the excitation wavelength. Additionally, they can be customized for specific uses due to their high carbon content, which can reach up to 99.9%. These characteristics have generated significant interest among researchers in various fields. In this study, the influence of the fungal carbon dots on the adsorption capacity and kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics of lead was investigated.
Materials and Methods
Alternaria alternata provided by the Department of Plant Protection at Ferdowsi university of Mashhad. It was recultured and fungal exopolysaccharide was extracted and then was converted into carbon dot using the hydrothermal method. Fungal exopolysaccharide autoclaved in a Teflon container at a temperature of 200 °C. Lead adsorption of synthesized fungal carbon dots was investigated. Lead adsorption tests by fungal carbon dots were performed in laboratory conditions. Lead concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 750 and 1000 mg L-1), contact time (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 60 minutes), pH (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11), amount of carbon dots (nanosorbent) (50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 750 and 1000 mg), ionic strength of the solution (0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 M potassium chloride) and solution temperature (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 °C) was considered for kinetic tests. The data obtained from the kinetic tests were fitted using non-linear regression analysis using Statistica 7.0 software with the kinetic models of intraparticle diffusion, Lagergren (pseudo-first order) and pseudo-second-order. Thermodynamic results were calculated from the data of lead adsorption isotherms at temperatures of 25, 35 and 45 °C. Thermodynamic parameters to analyze the effect of temperature on metal adsorption, such as free energy change, enthalpy change and entropy change, were estimated using thermodynamic equations.
Results and Discussion
The initial lead concentration had a great effect on the adsorption rate it by carbon dot, and the highest and lowest percentage of lead adsorption with values of 90.65 and 44.2% were observed in two concentrations of 300 and 1000 mg L-1 of lead, respectively. With the increase of pH up to 8, the amount of lead adsorption by fungal carbon dot increased significantly. However, with further increase in pH, this trend was reversed and the amount of adsorption decreased. The results showed that lead adsorption by carbon dot increased with the decrease of potassium chloride molarity. By increasing the amount of carbon dot in the solution, the amount of lead adsorption increased, and the highest adsorption was observed at the concentration of 300 mg L-1 of carbon dot. The results of the experiment also showed that with increase in temperature, the adsorption rate increased at first and then decreased. Based on these results, as the contact time between the absorbent and lead increased, the amount of adsorption by the carbon dots also increased. The maximum adsorption was observed at 25 minutes, which was considered the equilibrium time. As shown in the results, the pseudo-second-order model shows the kinetics of Pb adsorption better than the two pseudo-first-order models and intraparticle diffusion. In this model, R2 values are between 0.9989 and 0.9994, and Qe is almost equal to the equilibrium value. According to these results, the decrease of values DG° with the increase in temperature means that the adsorption of lead increases with the increase in temperature, which shows that the adsorption process is more favorable with the increase in temperature, or in other words, it is a spontaneous reaction. Also, the positivity of the reaction enthalpy value (DH°) shows the endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The positivity of the entropy value (DS°) indicates the increase of disorder of the system between the adsorbent material and the solution during the process of lead adsorption by the carbon dot.
Conclusion
In total, the results showed that the carbon dot is a very good absorbent for removing lead from the water environment. In the experimental condition when the initial concentration of lead was 300 mg L-1, temperature was 25 °C, adsorbent concentration was 0.3 g L-1, reaction time was 25 minutes, and pH 8, the amount of lead adsorption increased significantly. It seems that fungal carbon dot is a safe and relatively cheap adsorbent and suitable for removing lead metal from the solution environment.
J. Ghaderi; F. Nourgholipour
Abstract
Introduction: Due to the compatibility of canola with different conditions, economic value, its price and importance of rotation with cereals, it has the highest level of cultivation area among the oilseed crops in Iran. Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a widespread macronutrient deficiency and is one of ...
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Introduction: Due to the compatibility of canola with different conditions, economic value, its price and importance of rotation with cereals, it has the highest level of cultivation area among the oilseed crops in Iran. Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a widespread macronutrient deficiency and is one of the major limiting constraints for canola production. Despite its importance, it limits crop yield on more than 40% of the world’s arable land and 70.2% in Iran. Moreover, global P reserves are being depleted at a higher rate and according to some estimates, there will be no economic P reserve by the year 2050. This is a potential threat to sustainable canola production. Most of the P applied in the form of fertilizers may be adsorbed by the soil, and would not be available for plants lacking specific adaptations. It is widely accepted that the most realistic solution to the problem of P deficiency is to develop new plant cultivars that adapt to P-deficient soils. Phosphorus efficiency is a term that generally describes the ability of crop species/genotypes to give higher yield under P-limiting condition. Plant species as well as genotypes within the same species may differ in P efficiency. This study was conducted to determine the effect of phosphorus fertilization on the grain yield and phosphorus efficiency indices in different canola cultivars.
Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out at the research farm of the Mahidasht Agricultural Research Station located 20 km away from Kermanshah (with elevation of 1265 m). This experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications with 2 factors including canola varieties and different amounts of phosphorus fertilizer. The first factor consisted of five triple superphosphate (TSP) levels (0, 16, 32, 49, and 61 kg per ha) and the second factor consisted of three cultivars (Okapi, Opera and Zarfam). This research was conducted on soil where the amount of available phosphorus was lower than the critical level required for canola (15 mg kg-1). Prior to sowing, all phosphorus treatments with 30 kg ha-1 of zinc sulfate fertilizer as well as one-third of nitrogen fertilizer (100 kg ha-1 urea) were applied during planting and mixed thoroughly with the soil. The remaining urea fertilizer was applied at two stages of stem growth (120 kg ha-1) and early flowering (100 kg ha-1). Each experimental plot had an area of 12 m2. Irrigation method was sprinkler. Grain and straw yield were determined after the harvest and seed samples (harvesting stage) were taken and rinsed with distilled water, oven dried at 70 °C, ground, digested and analyzed for determining the P concentration. Analysis of variance was performed using SAS software and mean comparisons performed by Duncan’s multiple range tests (P ≤ 0.05).
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the interaction effects of phosphorus fertilizer rate and canola cultivars on leaf P concentration, grain and straw yield, grain P concentration and uptake, and P efficiency indices were significant. In average of the two-years, the highest grain and straw yields (3203 and 4613 kg ha-1, respectively) were obtained from 300 kg ha-1 P fertilizer rate for Okapi cultivar. Under the P deficiency condition, no significant difference was observed between cultivars in terms of grain yield. Significant differences were observed among three cultivars in terms of P efficiency. Opera cultivar was efficient in absorption (0.84) and Zarfam cultivar was efficient in phosphorus utilization (152 kg grain / kg fertilizer), but Opera was phosphorus efficient. With application of phosphorus fertilizer, phosphorus use efficiency decreased and the highest amount was found for the control treatment which produced 169 kg seeds per kg of phosphorus. The lowest amount of this characteristic was obtained for 300 kg phosphorus fertilizer treatment. Considering the correlation between phosphorus stress factor and P uptake efficiency, it seems that P efficiency was dependent on P uptake (R2 = 0.477 **) rather than P utilization (R2 = 0.076 ns).
Conclusion: Phosphorus uptake efficiency can be used for selecting P efficient cultivars of canola under farm condition. Application of Opera and Okapi cultivars with 80 kg of fertilizer per ha in similar conditions of this experiment would be advisable and excess phosphorus fertilizer application would not significantly increase grain yield. Selecting suitable varieties could decrease application of chemical fertilizers in the soil.
M. Mahdizadeh; A. Reyhanitabar; Sh. Oustan
Abstract
Introduction: Sorption and desorption are important processes that influence phosphorus (P) chemistry in soil. Desorption is a process more complex than sorption and usually not all that is adsorbed is desorbed. This indicates that adsorption and desorption mechanisms are not similar and it seems that ...
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Introduction: Sorption and desorption are important processes that influence phosphorus (P) chemistry in soil. Desorption is a process more complex than sorption and usually not all that is adsorbed is desorbed. This indicates that adsorption and desorption mechanisms are not similar and it seems that such reactions are irreversible. Such irreversibility is usually called hysteresis. Major factors such as chemical changes in the structure of minerals, non-equivalent processes, inflation of adsorbent material, changes in the strength of crystals, irreversible fixation of adsorbed molecules in fine pores and equilibrium time less than its true value lead to hysteresis phenomenon. The concentration of phosphate in soil solution and thus its availability for plant are closely related to sorption processes by soil components. This relationship can be explicated by sorption isotherms. Soil organic matter (SOM) especially in arid and semiarid regions is one of the important indices of soil quality and plays important role in phosphate chemistry and fertility. Organic matter could decrease P sorption, maximum buffering capacity, and bonding energy and could increase P concentration in calcareous soils solution. Organic matter and organic acids resulted from its decomposition may coat calcium carbonate surfaces and prevent the formation of apatite precipitation. There are several methods to remove soil organic matter including using hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite solutions. It has been reported that H2O2 is penetrated into the interlayer spaces of phlogopite and vermiculite through exchange with water and cations and decomposes into H2O and O2. Therefore, this study was conducted to quantify the hysteresis indices, to investigate the effect of organic matter removal on phosphorus (P) hysteresis indices and to evaluate the relationship between hysteresis indices and soil characteristics and selection of index with the close correlation.
Materials and Methods: This study was carried out to obtain soil organic matter (SOM) removal with sodium hypochlorite solution (NaOCl, pH=8) effects on P hysteresis indices in 12 calcareous soils of Iran with different characteristics. For experiment of P sorption, 2 gr of soil subsamples was placed in separate 50 mL centrifuge tubes, to which were added 20 ml of monocalcium phosphate containing 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg P L-1, which had been prepared in 0.01 M CaCl2 solution as background. Centrifuge tubes were shaken in a shaker incubator for 48-hour period to reach an equilibrium. Then, they were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through a filter paper and the P concentration of filtrates determined using a spectrophotometer. The difference between initial and final P concentrations was assumed to be the amount of P adsorbed by the soil. Desorption experiments were assumed at the end of sorption experiments at the highest initial concentration of P with 0.01 M CaCl2 solution. The tubes were shaken to reach phosphate desorption equilibrium time (24 hours) at 25 °C in incubator shaker. Then, it was centrifuged for 5 minutes at 4000 rpm and 15 ml of the supernatant solution was pipetted and then 15 ml of solution of 0.01 M CaCl2 was added to tubes and the above steps continued to 9 steps. Freundlich model was used to describe the sorption – desorption isotherms data. DataFit 9.0.59 software (1995-2008) was used for nonlinear fitting of Freundlich to sorption data.
Results and Discussion: According to the results, P sorption and desorption data showed hysteresis which indicates adsorption and desorption mechanisms are not the same. As expected, nonlinear Freundlich equation showed a best fit (R2=0.96) to the data. The mean value of desorbed P in studied soils after SOM removal was decreased by 40%, so it was concluded that P sorption was more irreversible. In NaOCl treated soils, the mean values of seven studied hysteresis indices (HI) increased. Regression analysis indicated that the fourth hysteresis index, obtained from the distribution coefficient (Kd), had close relation with clay (r = 0.69, p < 0.05) and active calcium carbonate (r = 0.7, p < 0.05) concentration. Moreover, this hysteresis index showed significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with Kfsorb and Kfdesorb, which suggests that increasing bonding energy in sorption and desorption isotherms decreased desorption amount due to the strong interaction between adsorbed P and absorbent surface, increasing this hysteresis index.
Conclusion: It was concluded that among seven used hysteresis indices, HI4 can be introduced as the best index for the studied calcareous soils. It is predicted that using organic matter or preventing its reduction in arid and semi-arid calcareous soils may increase the efficiency of P fertilizer, given an increase in hysteresis index after the removal of the organic matter.
Ahmad Farrokhian Firouzi; Hosein Hamidifar; Mohammad javad Amiri; Mehdi Bahrami
Abstract
Introduction: Nanoparticles due to their large specific area and reactivity recently have been used in several environmental remediation applications such as degradation of organic compounds and pesticides and adsorption of heavy metals and inorganic anions. Because of concern over potential threats ...
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Introduction: Nanoparticles due to their large specific area and reactivity recently have been used in several environmental remediation applications such as degradation of organic compounds and pesticides and adsorption of heavy metals and inorganic anions. Because of concern over potential threats of nanoparticle releases into the soil–water environment, a number of studies have been carried out to investigate the transport, retention and deposition of nanoparticles in saturated porous media. Many of these studies are based on measurements of transport in columns packed with idealized porous media consisting of spherical glass beads or sand. The nanoparticles are usually introduced into the column and breakthrough curve concentrations are measured at the column outlet. To examine the effect of various parameters on the transport of nanoparticles in porous medium, for convenience, all the parameters considered the same in the experiments, and only one parameter in the experiments is changed and investigated.
Materials and Methods: The objective of this research is quantitative study of modified magnetite nanoparticles transport in saturated sand-repacked columns. The modified magnetite nanoparticles with Sodium dodecyl sulfate were synthesized following the protocol described by Si et al. (2004). The experimental setup included a suspension reservoir, Teflon tubing, a HPLC pump, and a glass column (2.5 cm i.d. and 20 cm height). Therefore, breakthrough curves of modified magnetite nanoparticles with Sodium dodecyl sulfate and chloride were determined under saturated conditions and influence of nanoparticles concentration (0.1 and 0.5 g.L-1) and pore velocity (pressure head of 2 and 10 cm) on nanoparticles transport were investigated. For each medium bed, the background solution were first pumped through the column in the up-flow mode to obtain a steady flow state. Then, a tracer test was conducted by introducing CaCl2 solution into the column. The response curve was followed by analyzing the concentration history of Cl-1 in the effluent. Then, the influent was switched back to the background solution to thoroughly elute the tracer. Following the tracer test, a modified magnetite nanoparticles with sodium dodecyl sulfate was introduced into the column and the nanoparticle breakthrough curves were obtained by measuring the concentration history of total Fe in the effluent. Total iron concentration was analyzed with a flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometer.
One site and two site kinetic attachment-detachment models in HYDRUS-1D software were used to predict the nanoparticles transport. Also parameters of model efficiency coefficient (E), root mean square error (RMSE), geometric mean error ratio (GMER), and geometric standard deviation of error ratio (GSDER) were used to determine the accuracy of the models.
Results and Discussion: SEM measurements demonstrated that the particle size of nanoparticles was about 40-60 nm. The hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient (D) for each medium was obtained by fitting the classic 1-D convection–dispersion equation (CDE) to the experimental breakthrough data using the CXTFIT code (STANMOD software, USDA). The relative concentration of nanoparticles in comparison with chloride in the collected effluent from soil columns were much lower indicating a strong retention of nanoparticles in studied porous media, thereby attachment, deposition and possibly straining of nanoparticles.
Modeling results showed that in all sites of both models (one site and two-site kinetic attachment-detachment models), attachment was rapid and detachment was slow. These attachment kinetic sites may be because of consistent charges of minerals with attachment. Therefore, considering to same attachment-detachment behavior in two sites of two-site kinetic model, it is concluded that the one site kinetic model had eligible estimation of nanoparticles breakthrough curve in the studied sandy soil columns lonely. Efficiency of one site and two-site models varied from 0.761 to 0.851 and 0.760 to 0.846 respectively that indicated both models had good estimation of nanoparticles transport in the sandy soil. Also, logarithmic form of nanoparticles breakthrough curve showed that both models had good estimation of all ranges of breakthrough curve containing its tail.
Conclusion: Investigation of transport modeling of modified magnetite nanoparticles with Sodium dodecyl sulfate in a saturated sandy soil showed that decreasing the nanoparticles concentration would enhanced the mobility of modified magnetite nanoparticles, but increasing of pressure head had no effect on nanoparticles mobility. The results of models evaluation showed that both one site and two-site models had eligible estimation of nanoparticles transport in the studied sandy soil columns.
Ahmadreza Sheikhhosseini; H. Shariatmadari; M. Shirvani
Abstract
Introduction: Pollution of soil and water environment by release of heavy metals is of great concerns of the last decades. Sorption of heavy metals by low cost materials is considered as an inexpensive and efficient method used for removal of heavy metals from soil-water systems. The presence of different ...
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Introduction: Pollution of soil and water environment by release of heavy metals is of great concerns of the last decades. Sorption of heavy metals by low cost materials is considered as an inexpensive and efficient method used for removal of heavy metals from soil-water systems. The presence of different ligands with various complexing abilities can change the sorption properties of heavy metals and their fate in the environment as well. In order to assess the effect of citrate and arginine as natural organic ligands in soil environment, in a batch study we investigated the effects of these ligands on equilibrium sorption of nickel to sepiolite and calcite minerals and also kinetics of Ni sorption by these minerals.
Materials and Methods: Minerals used in this study included sepiolite from Yazd (Iran) and pure calcite (Analytical grade, Merck, Germany). Sepiolite was purified, saturated with Ca using 0.5 M CaCl2, powdered in a mortar and sieved by non-metal 230 mesh standard wire sieve. For equilibrium sorption study, in a 50-mL polyethylene centrifuge tube,0.3 g sample of each mineral was suspended in 30 mL of a 0.01 M CaCl2 solution containing 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg L-1 Ni (NiCl2) and containing zero (as control) or 0.1mmol L-1 citrate or arginine ligands. The applied concentrationsfor each ligand can naturally occur in soils. Preparedtubes were shaken (180±2 rpm, 25±1oC) for 24 h using an orbital shaker and centrifuged (4000×g for 10 min) and the supernatants were analyzed for Ni concentration using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAnalyst 200 Perkin-Elmer) at a wavelength of 232 nm and a detection limit of 0.05 mg L-1. The quantity of Ni retained by each mineral at equilibrium was calculated using equation qe = (Ci - Ce)V/W where qe was the amount of nickel retained by mineral surface at equilibrium. Ci and Ce were the initial and the equilibrium concentrations (mg L-1) of Ni, respectively, V was the volume (L) of the solution, and W was the mass (g) of the sorbent. The Langmuir, Freundlich and linear isotherm models were fitted to sorption data using Graphpad prism 5.0. For kinetic study,30 mL of 0.01 M CaCl2 solution, with or without 0.1 mM citrate or arginine, containing Ni at a concentration corresponding to the maximum sorption capacity of each mineral (estimated from sorption isotherms) were transferred into 50-ml polyethylene centrifuge tubes containing 0.3 g of sepiolite or calcite. The suspensions were shaken (180±2 rpm, 25 °C) continuously and after 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours, corresponding tubes were centrifuged (4000×g for 10 min) and supernatants were analyzed for Ni concentration by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Using Graphpad prism 5.0, kinetic data were fitted to Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and power function kinetic models.
Results: With or without ligands, the Langmuir model was the best description of Ni sorption to sepiolite while the linear model was the best fit of calcite data showing the physical nature of Ni sorption by this mineral. Kinetics of Ni sorption to sepiolite and calcite were best described by power function model. In the presence of citrate, both capacity and rate of sorption of Ni to sepiolite decreased. There was no considerable change in sorption of Ni to calcite. In the presence of arginine, however, sorption capacity of minerals for Ni increased. Arginine enhanced the rate of Ni sorption on all three minerals. Citrate showed opposing effects on Ni sorption kinetics depending on the studied minerals. Totally, citrate and arginine had opposite effects on sorption of Ni to sepiolite and calcite.
Conclusion: Organic ligands can change sorption characteristics of the minerals. It seems that citrate decreases sorption of Ni to sepiolite but its effect on Ni sorption to calcite is negligible, while arginine increases Ni sorption to both minerals. Our results suggested that presence of citrate and arginine in soil influence Ni sorption by soil minerals. As in warmer seasons of year,microbial activities due to optimum temperature and moisture result in production of citrate and argininewhich facilitate and suppress uptake of Ni by plants respectively. Production of citrate in soil may increase risk of Ni contamination of underground and surface water sources while arginine can decrease soil solution Ni and in turn the risk of water contamination.
A. Falahati Marvast; alireza hosseinpuor; Seyed Hassan Tabatabaei
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil salinity on the availability and uptake of cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb), nickel(Ni), zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) in a soil treated with municipal sewage sludge (MSS). Soil was salinized (2, 4, 8 and 12 dSm-1 soil paste extract) with NaCl + CaCl2 (1:1ratio), ...
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil salinity on the availability and uptake of cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb), nickel(Ni), zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) in a soil treated with municipal sewage sludge (MSS). Soil was salinized (2, 4, 8 and 12 dSm-1 soil paste extract) with NaCl + CaCl2 (1:1ratio), and incubated at soil field capacity (FC) for 1 month. The soil was treated with a 1.5 percent of MSS and incubated again at FC for 1 month. Before planting,soluble and DTPA-TEA extractable of heavy metals and soluble Chloride(Cl-) were determined. Then barley seeds were planted and, plants were harvested 10 weeks after germination. The plant indices (dry weight, heavy metal concentration and heavy metal uptake) were measured. The results showed that all salinity levels significantly increased soluble and availability of Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu. Soil salinity had a significant effect on concentrations and absorption of Cd and Pb in plant (P