Efficacy evaluation of biochar and activated carbon as carriers of bacterial inoculants in the remediation of multi-metal polluted soil

ABSTRACT

Application of appropriate organic amendments as the carriers of bacterial consortium may improve the remediation efficiency of HMs-polluted soil. A greenhouse experiment was designed and carried out to investigate the capability of biochar, and activated carbon prepared from ostrich manure and almond husk as the carriers of bacterial inoculants in the phytoremediation of a calcareous soil polluted with Pb, Ni, Cd and Zn by maize. Results showed that the application of biochar and activated carbon prepared from ostrich manure increased root (78–129%) and shoot (72.3–272%) dry weight, as compared to the control. The values of metal accumulation in both maize root and shoot were in the order of Cd>Zn>Ni>Pb. While biochar and activated carbon prepared from ostrich manure significantly increased both root and shoot metals uptake, those prepared from almond husk drastically decreased the uptake of some metals. The foremost mechanism involved in the phytoremediation of Cd, Ni and Pb was phytostabilization while that of Zn was due to the phytoextraction. Results of the present study demonstrated the effectiveness of ostrich manure-derived biochar and activated carbon as an efficient treatment in the phytoremediation of multi-metal-polluted soils and the mitigation of HMs phytotoxicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Almond husk
• HMs
• ostrich manure
• Pseudomonas fluorescens
• Sporosarcina ureae

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Shiraz University for providing research facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Novelty statement

• The effectiveness of biochar and activated carbon was highly dependent on the type of raw materials

• Ostrich manure biochar was an appropriate bacterial carrier for the phytoremediation of polluted soils

• Phytoextraction of Zn and phytostabilization of Pb, Cd and Ni were the main remediation mechanisms

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Yalda Mansourpour

Yalda Mansourpour is a PhD Student in Soil Science Department, Shiraz University.

Reza Ghasemi-Fasaei

Reza Ghasemi-Fasaei is a Professor of Soil Science Department, Shiraz University.

Jafar Yasrebi

Jafar Yasrebi is an Assistant Professor of Soil Science Department, Shiraz University.

Abdolmajid Ronaghi

Abdolmajid Ronaghi is a Professor of Soil Science Department, Shiraz University.

Majid Baghernejad

Majid Baghernejad is a Professor of Soil Science Department, Shiraz University.

Mehdi Zarei

Mehdi Zarei is an Associate Professor of Soil Science Department, Shiraz University.