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Testing the potential of enhanced phytoextraction to clean up NORM and heavy metal contaminated soils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

J. Barescut ,
H. Vandenhove ,
L. Duquène ,
F. Tack ,
J. Baeten  and
J. Wannijn
H. Vandenhove
Affiliation:
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCKCEN), Biosphere Impact Studies, 2400 Mol, Belgium
L. Duquène
Affiliation:
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCKCEN), Biosphere Impact Studies, 2400 Mol, Belgium
F. Tack
Affiliation:
Ghent University, Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, 9000 Gent, Belgium
J. Baeten
Affiliation:
Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen, Department of Health-Care and Chemistry, 2440 Geel, Belgium
J. Wannijn
Affiliation:
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCKCEN), Biosphere Impact Studies, 2400 Mol, Belgium
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Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was set up to evaluate the potential of enhanced phytoextraction to clean up U and heavy metal contaminated soils. One soil had a naturally high U concentration; the other soil was impacted by the radium extraction industry. Enhancement of solubility and uptake by plants (ryegrass and Indian mustard) was monitored after addition of 5 chemical amendments: citric acid, ammonium citrate-citric acid mixture, oxalic acid, EDDS and NTA. Solubilisation and uptake were highly influenced by the amendment applied and soil-plant combinations. For U, citric acid, the ammonium citrate-citric acid mixture or EDDS were most effective in increasing U uptake. EDDS was most effective in increasing Cu in mustard and ryegrass and Pb in ryegrass shoots. For other metals, increase in uptake was limited to at most a factor 5. Percentages annually removed with biomass ranged from 0.0002% to 1.52%., and were lowest for U, Cr and Pb and highest for Cd. A targeted 10% reduction in soil contaminant would require 7 years for Cd, 35 and 52 years for Cu and Zn, 203 and 384 years for U and Pb and 9433 years for Cr. Phytoextraction is hence not a feasible technique to decontaminate historically contaminated soils.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 44 , Issue 5: ECORAD 2008 - Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity , 2009 , pp. 503 - 508
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

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