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Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water and Soil

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemoenvironment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 March 2023) | Viewed by 7557

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Tianrong He

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: migration, transformation and pollution control of heavy metals in soil and water

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of economic society, many anthropogenic sources, including mining activities (e.g., mining, smelting, and processing of heavy-metal-containing ores), agricultural activities (e.g., chemical fertilizers and sewage irrigation), or industrial activities (e.g., waste incineration, oil, and coal combustion) have greatly contributed to the high levels of heavy metals in aquatic and soil ecosystems, which are widely visible from local- to global-scale dimensionality. Accumulation of heavy metals in water and soil from anthropogenic sources could pose high environmental risks for the health of wildlife, plants, or humans. This has drawn increasing public attention worldwide, and remediation strategies of heavy-metal-contaminated water and soil are urgently needed. At present, there are many technological achievements and practical applications including physical (e.g., soil/sediment replace), chemical (e.g., solidification and immobilization), and biological (e.g., phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and phytovolatilization) methods. However, because the special instincts and behaviors of heavy metals in soil/sediment, combined with their large pollution area, these techniques are subject to many deficiencies in view of remediation efficiency, environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. These principles result in huge challenges for researchers in the practical remediation of heavy-metal-contaminated water and soil. In addition, we must have a further understanding of the migration and transformation mechanisms of heavy metals in aquatic and soil ecosystems. Papers addressing these topics are invited to this Special Issue on “Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water and Soil”.

Prof. Dr. Tianrong He
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

heavy metals
remediation
pollution control
soil
water

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic Carbon Controls Mercury Distribution and Storage in the Surface Soils of the Water-Level-Fluctuation Zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China

by Sihua Zhu, Caiyun Yang, Hong Chen, Yongmin Wang, Jieqin Li, Ruixi Zhang, Yu Yang, Cheng Zhang and Dingyong Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3681; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043681 - 19 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1267

Abstract

The particular condition of the water-level-fluctuation zone (WLFZ) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), the largest hydroelectric reservoir in China, raises great concerns about mercury (Hg) contamination and ecological risk. In addition, previous research found that soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an essential role in controlling Hg distribution and speciation. However, there is minimal information on the Hg storage distribution and their relationships with SOC in the WLFZ in TGR. This study investigated Hg distribution, storage, and their relationships with SOC in the surface soils in WLFZ. The results showed that the total Hg (THg) content in the surface soils ranged from 18.40 to 218.50 ng g⁻¹, with an average value of 78.17 ± 41.92 ng g⁻¹. About 89% of samples had THg content above the background value in Chongqing, showing specific enrichment of Hg in WLFZ due to contamination in the TGR. The surface soils have low SOC, with an average value of 8.10 ± 3.90 g kg⁻¹. Moreover, THg content showed consistent distribution with the SOC in WLFZ, with a significantly positive correlation (R = 0.52, p < 0.01, n = 242). THg storage (201.82 ± 103.46 g ha⁻¹) in the surface soils was also significantly positively correlated with the SOC storage (R = 0.47, p < 0.01, n = 242). The reduced SOC sequestration, due to the periodical alternative “flooding–draining” and frequent reclamation and utilization of WLFZ, decreased the Hg adsorption in soil. Those might result in the re-release of Hg into waters when WLFZ is flooded. Therefore, more attention should be directed towards Hg cycling and the consequent environmental risks in the TGR region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water and Soil)

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12 pages, 2469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption Characteristics of Iron on Different Layered Loess Soils

by Li He, Yonghui Huang, Zhigang Xie, Wei Guan and Yao Zeng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16653; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416653 - 11 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1046

Abstract

In view of the problem of Fe³⁺ pollution in an iron sulfur mine, different layers of loess soil in the Bijie area were used for adsorption to alleviate the mine wastewater pollution by natural treatment. The effects of the initial concentration of Fe³⁺, adsorption time and pH value on the adsorption performance of top, core and subsoil layers of loess soils were studied by the oscillatory equilibrium method, and the adsorption mechanism of these three soils was analyzed through a kinetic adsorption experiment and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of Fe³⁺ was improved by increasing the initial concentration and reaction time, but the adsorption rate of the adsorption capacity of Fe³⁺ was reduced. The adsorption rate of Fe³⁺ in the subsoil layer was faster than that in the other two layers. The higher the pH, the higher the adsorption capacity. After the pH was higher than 3.06, it had little effect on the adsorption capacity, but the adsorption rate increased. The first-order kinetic equation, second-order kinetic equation and Elovich equation were suitable for iron adsorption kinetics of three soils. The fitting correlation coefficient of the second-order kinetic equation was close to one, indicating the main role of chemical adsorption. The adsorption rate constant of the subsoil layer was about two times and three times that of the core soil layer and the topsoil layer. The Langmuir model can better fit the isothermal adsorption process. The results of infrared spectroscopy of soil showed that the content of soil organic matter played an important role in the adsorption capacity of Fe³⁺. The subsoil layer had a higher concentration of organic matter and more abundant functional groups, so the adsorption capacity of Fe³⁺ was the highest. The results could provide a theoretical basis for the removal of iron in acid mine wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water and Soil)

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12 pages, 2391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Heavy Metal Content and Enzyme Activity in Uncaria rhynchophylla-Producing Areas under Different Land Use Patterns

by Xiuyuan Yang, Zhenming Zhang, Chao Sun and Xianping Zeng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12220; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912220 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1393

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the content of soil heavy metals, the level of heavy metal pollution and the characteristics of soil enzyme activity under three different land use patterns of Uncaria rhynchophylla base, forestland and wasteland in Jianhe County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, revealing the intrinsic correlation between heavy metal content and soil enzyme activity to reveal the relationship between soil enzyme activity and heavy metal content under different land use patterns in the Uncaria rhynchophylla production area. The results showed that soil Cd and Hg contents in Uncaria rhynchophylla base both exceeded the national soil background value. The single pollution index indicated that Cd had the greatest contribution to P_n, and the comprehensive pollution index (P_n) demonstrated no heavy metal pollution in the soil of Uncaria rhynchophylla-producing areas. Under different land use patterns, the enzyme activity was forestland > wasteland > Uncaria rhynchophylla base, and catalase and acid phosphatase activities presented significant spatial differences (p < 0.05). The correlation between soil enzyme activity and heavy metal content was uncertain due to the changes in land use patterns and heavy metal species. The proportions of positive correlation and negative correlation between soil enzyme activity and heavy metals in Uncaria rhynchophylla base were 50%, respectively. In the forestland, soil enzyme activity was positively correlated with heavy metals, while in the wasteland, soil enzyme activity was negatively correlated with heavy metals. This study revealed that the changes in heavy metal content should be focused on for the soil quality in Uncaria rhynchophylla-producing areas under different land use patterns. The results of the study provide some basic theoretical references for the improvement of soil quality in the production area of Uncaria rhynchophylla under different land use practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water and Soil)

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Review

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15 pages, 683 KiB

Open AccessReview

In Situ Remediation Technology for Heavy Metal Contaminated Sediment: A Review

by Qinqin Xu, Boran Wu and Xiaoli Chai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416767 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3152

Abstract

Sediment is an important part of the aquatic ecosystem, which involves material storage and energy exchange. However, heavy metal pollution in sediment is on the increase, becoming an important concern for the world. In this paper, the state-of-art in situ remediation technology for contaminated sediment was elaborated, including water diversion, capping, electrokinetic remediation, chemical amendments, bioremediation and combined remediation. The mechanisms for these techniques to reduce/immobilize heavy metals include physical, electrical, chemical and biological processes. Furthermore, application principle, efficiency and scope, advantages and disadvantages, as well as the latest research progress for each restoration technology, are systematically reviewed. This information will benefit in selecting appropriate and effective remediation techniques for heavy metal-contaminated sediment in specific scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water and Soil)

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