Projects / Programmes
Soil gentle remediation method for bioavailable heavy metal stripping
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
Code |
Science |
Field |
P510 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physical geography, geomorphology, pedology, cartography, climatology |
B410 |
Biomedical sciences |
Soil science, agricultural hydrology |
Contaminated soil, remediation, heavy metal, bioavailable metals
Researchers (7)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
This research targets soil remediation technologies that reduce exposure and risk, and are protective of human health, by reducing contaminant bioavailability. Biodegradable chelator (S,S) isomere of ethylenediamine disuccinate and horizontal reactive permeable barriers will be used in the development of a novel, inexpensive, soil "gentle", on site heap leaching technology for bioavailable Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu stripping from contaminated soil. Risk associated with the use of chelator will be assessed by a standard earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and soil respirometry tests. Effectivenes in risk reduction, effect on soil quality, and estimated cost of some existing remediation methods and new bioavailable heavy metal stripping method will be compared. Several methods will be used in the proposed battery of tests for measuring bioavailability (potential toxicity) and environmental hazard of heavy metals in soil before and after remediation: fractionation of heavy metals in soils (sequential extractions), mobility of heavy metals in soil (TCLP test), human physiological bioavailability (Ruby''s test) and phytoavailability for phytoaccumulating plant T. goesingense (potential phytoavailability) and for lattuce (L. sativa). Possible relationship between pedological and physico-chemical properties of soils contaminated with Pb, Zn and Cd from Mežica valley, Slovenia, results of battery of tests, and effectivity of soil remediation methods for bioavailable heavy metal stripping will be examined with statistical tools. Based on the obtained results, a protocol for selection proper remediation method for different contaminated sites in Mežica valley will be proposed.