Recent Advance on Torrefaction Valorization and Application of Biochar from Agricultural Waste for Soil Remediation

With the increase of global proportion of soil pollution and the number of areas at risk,researchers have sought to develop various pathways to repair or relieve the pollutants in soil.Among them,biochar represents one multi-dimensional soil amendment which has got great deal of attention on its physicochemical properties towards the removal or mitigation of contaminants in soil.A variety of agricultural wastes like straw and manure prepared from different torrefaction process have been employed as feedstock for the production of biochar,which can be applied to the contaminated soil to facilitate the growing environment for crops,and to improve soil fertility and microbial environment.In addition,the utilization of biochar for soil remediation is also considered as a pro-cess of carbon sequestration.The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest research progress in torrefac-tion processes and mechanism of agricultural waste,the effects of different torrefaction methods on the formation and properties of biochar were explained,coupled with the effects of process parameters.Especially,the conver-sion and mechanisms of biochar prepared from agricultural wastes composed mainly with lignocellulosic material were discussed,and the characteristics of biochar prepared for improving soil physical and chemical character-istics,microbial community characteristics,nutrients,and the stability and relief of soil pollutants,especially heavy metals,are compared.Finally,this work discussed the application and future technical challenges of soil remediation based on agricultural waste derived biochar.

Study Progress in Remediation of Soil Contaminated by Heavy Metals and Its Application Prospect

Flax is an ideal crop for remedying soil contaminated by heavy metals. It has high tolerance to heavy metals and strong adsorption to heavy metals. Through properly using or adjusting external conditions such as regulator, moisture, fertilizer, microorganisms, and pH value, it is able to improve ability of flax to absorb, trans- fer, and accumulate heavy metals. To improve the ability of flax in remediating heavy metal contaminated soil, it is recommended to strengthen cultivation of flax varieties and screening of germplasm resources, actively carry out studies on tech- nologies of fax remedying heavy metal contaminated soil, implement large-scale and mechanized planting of flax, and promote control of heavy metal contaminated soil.

Application of polymeric aluminum salts in remediation of soil contaminated by Pb,Cd,Cu,and Zn

Soil contaminated with typical heavy metals (Pb,Cd,Cu,and Zn) was remedied by using the polymeric aluminum salt coagulants including polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and polyaluminum sulfate (PAS).The remediation efficiencies are influenced by reaction time,water amount,and dosage of remediation agent.The optimal remediation conditions are as follows:6 h of reaction time,1 kg/kg of water addition amount,and 0.25 kg/kg of remediation agent dosage.After PAC addition,the remediation efficiencies of diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Pb,Cd,Cu,and Zn reach 88.3%,85.1%,85.4%,and 73.7%,respectively;and those for PAS are 89.7%,88.7%,83.5%,and 72.6%,respectively.The main remediation mechanism of the polymeric aluminum salt may contribute to the ionization and hydrolysis of PAC and PAS.H + released from ionization of polymeric aluminum salt can cause the leaching of heavy metals,while the multinuclear complex produced from hydrolysis may result in the immobilization of heavy metals.For PAC,the immobilization of heavy metals is the main remediation process.For PAS,both leaching and immobilization are involved in the remediation process of heavy metals.

Overview of Patented Technologies for Remediation of Soil Pollution

Soil, an important material basis for human activities, is an indispensable natural rasource that is difficult to regenerate. It is also an important part of human ecological environment. Currently, soil pollution has affected China＇s agricultural production and threatened human health and ecological safety, so it has been paid more attention to by the people and has become a hot spot in environmental field. Through continuous research, a variety of soil remediation patents and technologies also emerge. Here, by retrieving the main words through the website （www. soopat. corn） and Chinese patent net, types of soil pollution and remediation technologies under the authorization status of the patents were analyzed, and the major species of soil pollutants and soil remediation technologies were reviewed.

Effective remediation of cadmium and lead contaminated soils by a novel slow-release phosphate amendment

Phosphate is widely used to immobilize cadmium(Cd)and lead(Pb)in soils through the insoluble metal phosphate precipitation.However,an increase in the phosphorus content of the environment can cause new pollution.In this study,five slow-release phosphate amendments(SRPAs)were synthesized and their characteristics including BET,SEM,FTIR,swelling ratio,and thephosphorus release were determined.The results show that SRPA was a sphere with a network structure with a specific surface area of 5 to 7.18 m^(2)/g andcontained phosphate,hydroxyl,carboxyl and other functional groups.Among five SRPAs,S3 sample showed good performance for phosphate release.Phosphate release from SRPA was well fitted with Ritger-Peppas model with constant n between 0.45 and 0.85,indicating that the phosphate release was in accordance with non-Fickian diffusion.As compared with monocalcium phosphate(MCP),SRPA application led to a lower concentration of water-soluble phosphorus in the soil sample and higher remediation efficiencies of Cd and Pb.The remediation efficiencies of water-soluble Cd and Pb in soil with SRPA were 97.1%and 97.9%,respectively.The remediation efficiencies of bioavailable Cd and Pb were 71.85%and 76.47%,respectively.The results of Tessier extraction showed that the exchangeable and carbonatebound fractions of Cd and Pb in the soil sample after SRPA application significantly reduced,while the residual fraction increased,indicating the stability of heavy metals increased.

Optimization of reed-specific degrading bacteria by response surfaces for remediation of crude oil-polluted soil in Xinjiang,China

This paper discussed the optimization of conditions for remediation of crude oil-polluted soil based on pot experiment by applying reed-specific degrading bacteria, and using response surfaces methodology. We took the initial crude oil concentration, the amount of inoculation, the ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the use of surfactant （Tween-80） as independent variables （factors）, and the degrading ratio of crude oil as the dependent variable （response） after a 90-day experiment. The experiment explored the impacts of each independent variable and their interactions on the bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soil using the Box-Behnken design. Working with a simulated forecasting model the study obtained optimization va reed＋specific degrading bacteria, a nitrogen to phosphorus ues for the treatment parameters of 200 g/kg of the ratio of about 6.0. and 0.2% surfactant. Under experimental conditions, for crude oil concentrations of 10, 30 and 50 g/kg, the optimal effects of the treatments achieved 71.87%, 66.61% and 54.52% degradation of the crude oil, respectively. The results can provide a basis for the technical development of plant-microorganism combined bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soil.

Stabilization-based soil remediation should consider longterm challenges

Soil remediation is of increasing importance globally, especially in developing countries. Among available remediation options, stabilization, which aims to immobilize contaminants within soil, has considerable advantages, including that it is cost-effective, versatile, sustainable, rapid, and often results in less secondary pollution. However, there are emerging challenges regard- ing the long-term performance of the technology, which may be affected by a range of environmental factors. These challenges stem from a research gap regarding the development of accurate, quantitative laboratory simula- tions of long-term conditions, whereby laboratory accel- erated aging methods could be normalized to real field conditions. Therefore, field trials coupled with long-term monitoring are critical to further verify conditions under which stabilization is effective. Sustainability is also an important factor affecting the long-term stability of site remediation. It is hence important to consider these challenges to develop an optimized application of stabilization technology in soil remediation.

Mathematical Modei of In-situ Ozonation for the Remediation of 2-Chlorophenol Contaminated Soil

A microscopic diffusion-reaction modei was developed to simulate in-situ ozonation for the remediation of contaminated soil, i.e., to predict the temporal and spatial distribution of target contaminant in the subsurface. The sequential strategy was employed to obtain the numerical solution of the modei using finite difference method. A non-uniform grid of discretization points was emploved to increase the accuracy of the numerical solution by means of coordinate transformation. One-dimensional column tests were conducted to verify the modei. The column was packed with simulated soils that were spiked with 2-chlorophenol. Ozone gas passed through the column at a flow rate of 100ml·min-1. The residual 2-chlorophenol content at different depths of the column was determined at fixed time intervals. Compared the experimental data with the simulated values, it was found that the mathematical modei fitted data well during most time of the experiment.

Study of Remediation of Soil Contamined with Heavy Metals by Coal Fly Ash

The labile fraction of heavy metals in soils is the most important for toxicity for plants. Thus it is crucial to reduce this fraction in contamined soils to decrease the negative effect of heavy metals. In an experiment, the effects of two additives on the labile fractions of Cu, Mn and Zn were investigated in a soil contamined during long-term application. The additive used was the coal fly ash. The treated soil was further enriched with heavy metals and allowed to age at room temperature for 30 days. After this period, they were extracted plant-available (EDTA;HNO3;CH3COOH) metal species. The addition of fly ash strongly reduced the plant-available of Mn for plants but to a lesser extent this applies to the plant-available of Cu and Zn for plants. By addition of 1% of fly ash as well as 2% of fly ash, the labile fraction of Cu, Mn and Zn were lowered by 6.3, 145.0 and 29.7 mg?kg-1, respectively. Moreover essential correlation between total Cu and Zn contents was stated in the soil with plant-available content of metals, with reference to both metals. Value of coefficients of correlation is attesting to it between the total and plant-available Cu and Zn contents which are respectively equal: R(Cu) = 0.845, R(Mn) = 0.864 and R(Zn) = 0.872 for p = 99.5%. The results suggested that leading into the soil of the additional amount of fly ash can be an effective way of chemical remediation with reference to soils contaminated by Cu or Mn or Zn. Because he causes immobilization of examined heavy metals in the soil and in the process in the arrangement a—soil is limiting the availability of these metals plant and more distant bonds of the food chain.

Synthesis,characterization,safety design,and application of NPs@BC for contaminated soil remediation and sustainable agriculture

Biochar(BC)and nanoparticle-decorated biochar(NPs@BC)have emerged as potential high-performance function materials to facilitate simultaneous soil remediation and agricultural production.Therefore,there is an urgent need to incorporate environmental sustainability and human health targets into BC and NPs@BC selection and design processes.In contrast to extensive research on the preparation,modification,and environmental application of BC to soil ecosystems,reports about the adapted framework and material selection strategy of NPs@BC under environmental and human health considerations are still limited.Nevertheless,few studies systematically explored the impact of NPs@BC on soil ecosystems,including soil biota,geochemical properties,and nutrient cycles,which are critical for largescale utilization as a multifunctional product.The main objective of this systematic literature review is to show the high degrees of contaminant removal for different heavy metals and organic pollutants,and to quantify the economic,environmental,and toxicological outcomes of NPs@BC in the context of sustainable agriculture.To address this need,in this review,we summarized synthesis techniques and characterization,and highlighted a linkage between the evolution of NPs@BC properties with the framework for sustainable NPs@BC selection and design based on environmental effects,hazards,and economic considerations.Then,research advances in contaminant remediation for heavy metals and organic pollutants of NPs@BC are minutely discussed.Eventually,NPs@BC positively acts on sustainable agriculture,which is declared.In the meantime,evaluating from the perspective of plant growth,soil characterizations as well as carbon and nitrogen cycle was conducted,which is critical for comprehending the NPs@BC environmental sustainability.Our work may develop a potential framework that can inform decision-making for the use of NPs@BC to facilitate promising environmental applications and prevent unintended consequences,and is expected to guide and boost the development of highly efficient NPs@BC for sustainable agriculture and environmental applications.

Contamination and Remediation of Heavy Metals in Soils near E-waste Recycling Area

In order to assess heavy metals pollution in agricultural soil after renovation in typical e-waste recycling areas, 212 soil samples were col- lected and the mass fractions of 7 kinds of heavy metals （Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn） were analyzed. The results indicated that heavy metals pollution in agricultural soil was commonly existed in the study areas, and the soil was slightly contaminated by Pb but was moderately or critically polluted by Cd and Cu. However, the carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk status by heavy metals pollution were beyond acceptable levels, and soil remediation was quite necessary. After some investigations of bioremediation, we found that saponin as washing agent could highly strenqthen the behavior of heavy metals desorption from soil ,which had a good prospect of engineering practice.

Research Progress on Remediation Technology Suitable for Farmland Soil Contaminated by Cd

Cd contamination range of farmland soil in China is wide,which has constituted a major threat for food safety and residents＇ health. Via multi-year development,there are more remediation methods suitable for soil contaminated by Cd among the world,but some methods are only suitable for the contaminated sites and indoor research,and can not be applied in large-range contaminated farmland. We analyze the source of Cd in farmland soil. By combining farmland＇s characteristics,three remediation techniques（ low-absorption crops plantation,soil solidification and phytoremediation） and their effects are analyzed,and the existing problems and research prospects of the above techniques are explored. The research could provide reference for restoring farmland soil contaminated by Cd in China,recovering its production function and enhancing food safety standards.

Research Progress on Effects of Continuous Cropping on Soil Microbial Florae and Its Restoration

Continuous cropping has become a common form of agricultural production at present, but with the increase of continuous cropping years, continuous cropping obstacles such as soil-borne diseases and plant growth potential decline are becoming more and more common. At present, the causes of continuous cropping obstacles and continuous cropping restoration have become a hot issue in agricultural research. This paper summarized the effects of continuous cropping obstacles on soil microbial community structure and main technical methods to repair continuous cropping obstacles, such as agricultural measure management, microbial balance adjustment and soil improvement, aiming to provide theoretical reference for protecting the sustainable utilization of soil ecosystem and ensuring the stability of crop production.

Technique of Earthworms Restoring Soil in Greenhouse Cultivation

The production environment of greenhouse cultivation is relatively closed,the multiple cropping index is high,the management of fertilizationwatering and pesticideapplication isblindtosomeextent,andthe phenomenonofcontinuous cropping isalsocommonSoilquali-ty affects the sustainable development of greenhouse cultivation.Earthworm is a ubiquitous invertebrate organism in soil,an important part of soil system,a link between terrestrial organisms and soil organisms,an important link in the small cycle of soil material organisms,and plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of soil ecosystem.Different ecotypes of earthworms are closely related to their habi-tats(soil layers)and food resource preferences,and then affect their ecological functions.The principle of earthworm regulating soil function is essentially the close connection and interaction between earthworm and soil microorganism.Using different ecotypes of earthworms and bio-logical agents to carry out combined remediation of greenhouse cultivation soil is a technical model to realize sustainable development of green-house cultivation.

Adsorption of Phenanthrene in Soil to Biochar Modified by β-Cyclodextrin

In this study, the adsorption effect of β-cyclodextrin modified biochar (BC) on phenanthrene (PHE) in contaminated soil was investigated, aiming to provide an efficient and environmentally friendly remediation strategy for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminated soil. Through kinetic and isotherm analysis, β-CDBC-CA showed excellent phenanthrene adsorption performance, and the adsorption effect increased with the increase of time and was affected by temperature. The results show that β-CDBC-CA can not only effectively adsorb phenanthrene in soil, but also serve as a surfactant to help desorption phenanthrene adsorbed by soil organic matter and improve the efficiency of microbial degradation. The experimental data showed that the Elovich model could describe the adsorption behavior of β-CDBC-CA on phenanthrene well, while Langmuir and Freundlich models performed better in fitting parameters, revealing the adsorption mechanism of phenanthrene in contaminated soil by β-cyclodextrin-modified biochar. In addition, temperature has a significant effect on the adsorption capacity of β-CDBC-CA, and its application in soil remediation can be optimized by adjusting temperature. This study not only provides new materials and technical means for soil remediation but also provides important data support for an in-depth understanding of the environmental behavior of PAHs. By citing relevant research results, this study further improves the control and understanding of environmental risks of PAHs, which is of great significance for the protection of ecological environment and human health.

In-situ remediation of deep petroleum-contaminated soil injection

A computational fluid dynamics(CFD)numerical simulation and field experiment were used to investigate optimal operating parameters of high-pressure jet grouting equipment and clarify the boundary law of the injection area in the remediation process.The response surface optimization design results show that the optimal injection pressure is 30 MPa,rotation speed is 23 r/min,commission speed is 30 cm/min,and the optimal injection diameter is 147.3 cm.Based on the CFD numerical simulation,the ratio of the injection core,turbulent zone,and seepage zone is approximately 1∶4∶2.The distribution law of jet core,turbulence zone and seepage zone at different cross-sections under 30 MPa operating conditions is as follows:The jet core radius is approximately 100 mm,the turbulence zone is mainly distributed at 100 to 500 mm,the seepage zone is mainly distributed at 500 to 700 mm,the seepage zone could be completed within 2 h,and the proportion of the three boundary zones in the injection zone is similar to that of the numerical simulation.This study provides theoretical parameters and practical reference for the remediation of deep pollution via in-situ chemical oxidation in the Loess Plateau soil environment.

Remediation Effects of Different Concentration of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Level on Pb-Contaminated Soil

Phosphorus-containing amendments can reduce the mobility of Pb in soil. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is one of the most commonly used phosphorus-containing amendments. With the development of nanotechnology, nano-hydroxyapatie (n-HAP) was gradually applied to remediate soil polluted by heavy metals. Considering the concentrations of HAP/n-HAP were not more than 5% in most studies, soil polluted by Pb was artificially prepared and three different concentrations of n-HAP: 5%, 7% and 10% by weight, were added into the Pb-polluted soil separately. The mixtures of soil and n-HAP were incubated for 180 d and sampled regularly. The bioaccessibility of Pb in soil was determined using simulated gastric juices of two in-vitro digestion tests: USPM (United States Pharmacopeia Methodology) and PBET (Physiologically-Based Extraction Test). The results showed that the immobilizing efficiency of 5% n-HAP to Pb in soil was the highest in PBET. The extractable Pb from soil by USPM was not affected by concentration of n-HAP. So, the least concentration of n-HAP, i.e. 5% n-HAP treatment, was the most cost-effective in USPM. Soil pH increased with concentration of n-HAP. However concentration of n-HAP had little effects on content of soil OM. According to regression analysis, more than 50% differences of the extractable Pb from soil by PBET can be explained by soil pH, while soil pH, organic matter content and incubation time together explained nearly 85% differences of extractable Pb from soil by USPM.

Field demonstration of reduction of lead availability in soil and cabbage (Brassica Chinensis L.) contaminated by mining tailings using phosphorus fertilizers

A field demonstration of reduction of lead availability in a soil and cabbage (Brassica Chinensis L.) contaminated by mining tailings, located in Shaoxing, China was carried out to evaluate the effects of applications of phosphorus fertilizers on Pb fractionation and Pb phytoavailability in the soil. It was found that the addition of all three P fertilizers including single super phosphate (SSP), phosphate rock (PR), and calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP) significantly decreased the percentage of water-soluble and exchangeable (WE) soil Pb and then reduced the uptake of Pb, Cd, and Zn by the cabbage compared to the control (CK). The results showed that the level of 300 g P/m2 soil was the most cost-effective application rate of P fertilizers for reducing Pb availability at the first stage of remediation, and that at this P level, the effect of WE fraction of Pb in the soil de- creased by three phosphorus fertilizers followed the order: CMP (79%)>SSP (41%)>PR (23%); Effectiveness on the reduction of Pb uptake by cabbage was in the order: CMP (53%)>SSP (41%)>PR (30%). Therefore our field trial demonstrated that it was effective and feasible to reduce Pb availability in soil and cabbage contaminated by mining tailings using P fertilizers in China and PR would be a most cost-effective amendment.

Removal of heavy metals from a contaminated soilusing tartaric acid

This study reports the feasibility of remediation of a heavy metal （HM） contaminated soil using tartaric acid, an environmentally-friendly extractant. Batch experiments were performed to test the factors influencing remediation of the HM contaminated soil. An empirical model was employed to describe the kinetics of riM dissolution/desorption and to predict equilibrium concentrations of HMs in soil leachate. The changes of HMs in different fractions before and after tartaric acid treatment were also investigated. Tartaric acid solution containing HMs was regenerated by chestnut shells. Results show that utilization of tartaric acid was effective for removal of riMs from the contaminated soil, attaining 50%-60% of Cd, 40%-50% of Pb, 40%-50% of Cu and 20%-30% of Zn in the pH range of 3.5-4.0 within 24 h. Mass transfer coefficients for cadmium （Cd） and lead （Pb） were much higher than those for copper （Cu） and zinc （Zn）. Sequential fractionations of treated and untreated soil samples showed that tartaric acid was effective in removing the exchangeable, carbonate fractions of Cd, Zn and Cu from the contaminated soil. The contents of Pb and Cu in Fe-Mn oxide fraciton were also significantly decreased by tartaric acid treatment. One hundred milliliters of tartaric acid solution containing HMs could be regenerated by 10 g chestnut shells in a batch reactor. Such a remediation procedure indicated that tartaric acid is a promising agent for remediation of HM contaminated soils. However, further research is needed before the method can be practically used for in situ remediation of contaminated sites.

Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation Potential of Soil Bacteria Native to the Yellow River Delta

The bioremediation potential of bacteria indigenous to soils of the Yellow River Delta in China was evaluated as a treatment option for soil remediation. Petroleum hydrocarbon degraders were isolated from contaminated soil samples from the Yellow River Delta. Four microbial communities and eight isolates were obtained. The optimal temperature, salinity, pH, and the ratios of C, N, and P (C:N:P) for the maximum biodegradation of diesel oil, crude oil, n-alkanes, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons by indigenous bacteria were determined, and the kinetics changes in microbial communities were monitored. In general, the mixed microbial consortia demonstrated wider catabolic versatility and faster overall rate of hydrocarbon degradation than individual isolates. Our experimental results demonstrated the feasibility of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon by indigenous bacteria for soil remediation in the Yellow River Delta.