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Performance of Red Mud/Biochar Composite Material (RMBC) as Heavy Metal Passivator in Pb-Contaminated Soil

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Abstract

Red mud/biochar composite material (RMBC), which was applied as heavy metal passivator in this research, was prepared with red mud (the bauxite residue) and cornstalk under anoxic sintering condition. Based on the batch experiments in Pb contaminated soil, the passivating properties of several materials, including red mud (RM), biochar (BC), RMBC and phosphate-containing RMBC (PRMBC), were investigated in comparison with each other. Some interesting results are as follows: through anoxic thermal activation, a rough and porous structure of RMBC was obtained. Substances such as Fe3O4 and metal-organic complexes generated in RMBC provided effective sites for Pb passivation; and the mechanisms were speculated as the precipitation between Pb2+ and the carbonate (or hydroxide), as well as the complexation reaction between Pb and metal organic complexes through ligand bonding. The pot experiments showed the promotion effects of four passivators on the growth of red onion were in the following order: PRMBC > RMBC > BC > RM. PRMBC stabilized Pb content in soil significantly due to the formation of insoluble substances, with the minimum transfer factor and bioconcentration factor for plant growth. The evidences above implied the composite materials (PRMBC and RMBC) would be potential passivators for heavy metal-contaminated soil.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51602344, 51974314), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2014QNA35), Open Fund of Key Laboratory for Advanced Technology in Environmental Protection of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu province Key R & D Program: Social Development Project (BE2020773) and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20191480).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Mine Ecological Restoration Engineering, School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, No.1 Daxue Road, 221116, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Yaqin Zhao, Jing Wang, Liping Wang, Zixuan Niu, Houying Xin & Wenhua Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory for Advanced Technology in Environmental Protection of Jiangsu Province, School of Environmental and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, 224051, Yancheng, People’s Republic of China

    Bairen Yang

  3. School of New Materials and Chemical Engineering, Tangshan University, No.11 Daxue West Avenue, 063000, Tangshan, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    Qianqian Zhong

  4. Environmental Health Management Guidance Center, Taicang Urban Administration Bureau, No.118 Tianjin Road, Taicang, 215413, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Zixuan Niu

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  1. Yaqin Zhao
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Correspondence to Yaqin Zhao.

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Zhao, Y., Wang, J., Yang, B. et al. Performance of Red Mud/Biochar Composite Material (RMBC) as Heavy Metal Passivator in Pb-Contaminated Soil. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 30–43 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03546-y

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