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Biochar application modifies soil properties of a former mine technosol: SEM/EDS study to investigate Pb and As speciation

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Abstract

Metal (loid) soil pollution is an important issue worldwide that requires the use of remediation, using plants for instance. However, for plants to grow and be efficient, soil fertility must be improved and metal(loid) toxicity reduced. In such an assisted remediation context, biochar has been shown to improve soil conditions and thus plant growth. However, few field studies over long time periods have been conducted to assess biochar impact on metal(loid)s in soil. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of a biochar amendment, under field conditions, to improve soil physico-chemical properties and immobilize metal(loid)s and to study the possible mechanisms of such metal(loid) immobilization. For this, biochar was applied to a former mine technosol highly contaminated with As and Pb. Soil samples were taken prior to biochar amendment, on the day of biochar application and 6 months after biochar incorporation. The analyses showed that biochar increased soil pH, organic matter content and nutrient availability, and immobilized Pb. Such results were observed directly after biochar application and were still observed after 6 months, whereas As was first mobilized then immobilized. Finally, the analysis of the samples using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that Pb was immobilized, at least partly on the biochar surface, as PbCO3.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Erik Schuring for his help with the SEM analysis and Dr. Heather Wray for the English proofreading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA USC1328, LBLGC EA1207, University of Orléans, Orléans, France

    Manhattan Lebrun, Romain Nandillon, Florie Miard, Sylvain Bourgerie & Domenico Morabito

  2. ECN part of TNO, Petten, 1755LE, The Netherlands

    Rianne Visser

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  1. Manhattan Lebrun
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  2. Romain Nandillon
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  3. Florie Miard
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  4. Sylvain Bourgerie
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  5. Rianne Visser
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  6. Domenico Morabito
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Correspondence to Domenico Morabito.

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Highlights

•A field experiment was conducted on a former mine technosol.

•Biochar was applied and its effect evaluated after 6 months.

•Biochar ameliorated soil fertility and immobilized metal(loid)s.

•Pb mobilization was partly due to its sorption on the biochar surface.

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Lebrun, M., Nandillon, R., Miard, F. et al. Biochar application modifies soil properties of a former mine technosol: SEM/EDS study to investigate Pb and As speciation. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 14, 5877–5887 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01289-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01289-0

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