Zbigniew Mazur

CONTENT OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS IN NI-CONTAMINATED SOIL FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF HALLOYSITE AND ZEOLITE

Nickel has been listed as a priory control pollutant by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Compared with other methods, the combination of vegetation and the addition of mineral sorbents to heavy metal-contaminated soils can be readily applied on a large scale because of the simplicity of technology and low cost. Halloysite and zeolite, among others, can be used for this purpose. A greenhouse study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of using natural zeolite, as well as raw and modified halloysite for the remediation of simulated Ni-contaminated soil. The soil was spiked with five doses of nickel, i.e. 0 (control), 80, 160, 240 and 320 mg·Ni kg-1·soil. The average accumulation of heavy metals in nickelcontaminated soil was found to follow the decreasing order of Ni>Zn>Cr>Cu>Pb. The highest reduction of Pb content was observed in soil samples taken from pots containing 80 and 160 mg·kg-1 of Ni along with the addition of modified halloysite. The strongest effects were caused by natural zeolite, which significantly reduced the average content of chromium. Contamination at 320 mg Ni·kg-1 of soil led to the highest increases in the Ni, Pb and Cr contents of soil.

Co-remediation of Ni-contaminated soil by halloysite and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract The effects of increasing nickel contamination of soil on the update of selected microelements by Brassica juncea L. in the presence of raw halloysite (RH) and halloysite modified by thermal treatment (calcination) at 650°C (MH) were investigated experimentally. Such treatment causes partial dehydroxylation and enhances mineral-adsorption properties towards cations. In a vegetative-pot experiment, four different levels of Ni contamination, i.e. 0 (control), 80, 160, 240 and 320 mg kg-1 were applied in the form of an analytical-grade NiSO4·7H2O solution mixed thoroughly with the soil. Among the minerals which were added to soil to alleviate the negative impact of Ni on plant biomass, MH had a particularly beneficial effect on the growth of B. juncea L. The amount of Ni, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb and Cr in Indian mustard depended on the Ni dose and type of accompanying mineral structure. The average accumulation of trace elements in B. juncea L. grown in Ni-contaminated soil follow the decreasing order Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr.

Assessment of the effect of reactive materials on the content of selected elements in Indian mustard grown in Cu-contaminated soils

Abstract Zero-valent iron (ZVI) represent a promising agent for environmental remediation. The research was aimed to determine the influence of copper in doses of 0, 80, 150, 300, and 600 mg Cu·kg−1 of soil as well as ZVI, and lignite additives on the content of macroelements in the Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.). The average accumulation of analyzing elements in Indian mustard grown in copper contaminated soil were found to follow the decreasing order Mg > Na > P > Ca > K > N. Soil contamination at 600 mg Cu·kg−1 of soil led to the highest increase in P, Mg, N, and Ca content. The application of ZVI had a positive influence on the average phosphorus and potassium content of Indian mustard. Moreover, the application of ZVI and lignite had a positive influence on the average Mg and Ca content in the above-ground parts of Indian mustard. From the analyzed reactive materials, the application of lignite was shown to be the most effective resulting in the decrease in the average nitrogen and calcium content when compared to the control crop. Calcium content in plants from the control group, without the addition of zero-valent iron, and powered lignite (control), was positively correlated with increasing doses of copper.

EFFECT OF REACTIVE MATERIALS ON THE CONTENT OF SELECTED ELEMENTS IN INDIAN MUSTARD GROWN IN CR(VI)-CONTAMINATED SOILS

Reactive materials represent a promising agent for environmental co-remediation. The research was aimed to determine the influence of hexavalent chromium in doses of 0, 25, 50, and 150 mg Cr(VI).kg-1 of soil as well as zero valent-iron, and lignite additives on the content of macroelements in the Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The average accumulation of the analysed elements in Indian mustard grown in Cr(VI) contaminated soil were found to follow the decreasing order Mg>Na>P>Ca>K. Soil contamination at 150 mg Cr(VI).kg-1 of soil led to the highest increase in magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium content in Indian mustard. The application of zerovalent iron had a positive influence on the average Na and K content of the tested plant. The application of lignite had a positive influence on the average magnesium, sodium and calcium content in the above-ground parts of the studied plant. In the non-amended treatments (without reactive materials), the increasing rates of chromium (VI) had an explicitly positive effect on the content of phosphorous and sodium in Indian mustard.

Effect of compost from by-product of the fishing industry on crop yield and microelement content in maize

A pot experiment was conducted to compare the effects of compost from fish waste with mineral and manure fertilization on the yield and chemical composition of the overground parts of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment comprised two series: I – composts at a dose of 1 g of compost per pot, and II – composts with 0.5 g of urea. The treatments were conducted on the following types of composts: compost 1: fish waste (80% d.m.), sawdust (20% d.m.); compost 2: fish waste (80% d.m.), straw (20% d.m.); compost 3: fish waste (80% d.m.), bark (20% d.m.); compost 4: fish waste (79.3% d.m.), sawdust (19.7% d.m.), lignite (1% d.m.); compost 5: fish waste (79.3% d.m.), straw (19.7% d.m.); lignite (1% d.m.); compost 6: fish waste (79.3% d.m.), bark (19.7% d.m), lignite (1% d.m). The contents of Ni, Zn, Cr, Cu and Cd were determined in an air-acetylene flame using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The average crop yield of the overground parts of maize in the series without additional mineral fertilization and with mineral N-fertilization was higher compared to objects without mineral N-fertilization. The highest crop yield was noted in the case of compost containing fish waste and straw with addition of lignite and with bark and lignite. The addition of lignite to the compost mass in the series with mineral Nfertilization had stronger influence on the content of cadmium, chromium, nickel and zinc in the overground parts of maize.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SPRING RAPESEED GROWN IN COPPER- CONTAMINATED SOIL AMENDED WITH HALLOYSITE AND ZEOLITE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of soil contamination with copper doses of 0, 150, 300, and 450 mg.kg-1 of soil and the application of zeolite, raw and modified halloysite on the biomass of spring rapeseed and the content of nitrogen compounds and macronutrients in the above-ground parts of the tested plants. The content of macronutrients in plants was determined spectrophotometrically. The applied soil amendments and copper doses led to significant variations in the concentrations of the analyzed nutrients in spring rapeseed. Zeolite and halloysite were most effective in increasing the average above-ground biomass of the tested plants. Zeolite had a beneficial effect on the content of total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus in the above-ground parts of spring rapeseed. Raw halloysite increased the content of sodium and calcium, whereas modified halloysite contributed to an increase in the nitrogen, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium content of the tested plants.