Background and Objective: Soils and waters are frequently subject to contamination by inorganic elements including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, mainly due to anthropogenic activities, such as mining, incineration of wastes, drilling of petroleum shaft and agr
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Background and Objective: Soils and waters are frequently subject to contamination by inorganic elements including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, mainly due to anthropogenic activities, such as mining, incineration of wastes, drilling of petroleum shaft and agricultural practices (i.e., pesticides and sewage sludge application). Phytoremediation employs the use of plants to degrade, remediate and stabilize various environmental contaminants in soil, water and air. Biochar (BC) can be produced from a wide range of organic wastes via pyrolysis. It has great potential as an amendment for phytoremediation but its effects depend on the type of feedstock it derives from. This study was conducted to identify the effects of biochar addition and phytoremediation on As, Cr, and Pb concentrations in a soils polluted by oil drilling wastes.Material and Methodology: The current study was carried out to examine the heavy metal immobilizing effect of biochar produced from sugar cane waste and subsequent heavy metal uptake by Sorghum, Atriplex sp. and prosopis farcta. Sugar cane wastage biochar was incorporated into four application rates (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 % (w/w)) and soil biochar mixtures were examined for an incubation period of 2 months (so that the contaminated material could be distributed evenly in the soil particles). Then pot trials were provided for cultivation of Sorghum, Atriplex sp and Prosopis farcta so that for each plant, a row of 12 pots and a total of 36 pots for the three under-study plants.Findings: The results showed, average of Cr, As and pb concentration in contaminated soil is 56, 53.4 and 582 ppm. Average of Cr, As and pb concentration in contaminated soil is Amendment with BC is 30, 21.5 and 224. Average of Cr, As and pb concentration in contaminated soil is Amendment with Sorghum is 22, 7.2 and 43, Amendment with Atriplex sp is 16, 15.3 and 141, Amendment with prosopis farcta is 18, 19.9 and 192 ppm.Discussion and Conclusion: Effective treatment of Cr was prosopis farcta and 1 % (w/w) biochar, Sorghum and 2 % (w/w) biochar for As and pb. Although heavy metal-contaminated soils can be reclaimed effectively by application of biochar, further research is needed to explore its long-term environmental and economic aspect to gain maximum benefits from this novel material
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