Influence of the Application Renewal of Glutamate and Tartrate on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn Distribution Between Contaminated Soil and Paulownia Tomentosa in a Pilot-Scale Assisted Phytoremediation Study

Abstract

The influence of repeated applications of tartrate (TAR) and glutamate (GLU) at 50-mmol kg⁻¹ of soil on Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn distribution between a contaminated soil and Paulownia tomentosa was investigated. TAR and GLU were applied by a single or a double dosage, the latter carried out with an interval between the two applications of thirty days. The comparison of the differences in mean amounts of metals accumulated in the whole plant at the end of single and double TAR and GLU application experiments indicated the positive effect of repeated GLU applications on the accumulation of Cu, Pb, and Zn by Paulownia tomentosa as compared to untreated controls. A similar effect was not observed for the TAR treatments. When soil treated with either TAR or GLU was compared with untreated controls, no significant effect on heavy-metal concentrations in the soil solution was observed 30 days after treatment, suggesting the absence of an increase of the long-term leaching risk of heavy metals in aquifers and surface waters due to the ligand application. A cost analysis of the treatment is also reported.

KEY WORDS:

• assisted phytoremediation
• Paulownia tomentosa
• heavy metal

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study has been carried out with the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research through the Scientific Research Program of Relevant National Interest 2006 (Coordinator of the Project: Prof. Federico Vagliasindi).

The authors are grateful to Mrs. Susan Mary Cadby, who revised the manuscript language.