Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in the soil is a serious environmental problem. One of the heavy metals remediation methods from contaminated soils is the use of chelating agents, particularly organic acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of citric acid, and tartaric acid for the Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni mobility and distribution in the contaminated soils. Accordingly, soil samples were collected from contaminated soils of Charmshar Industrial Park located in Varamin city. Six samples were collected from surface (0-15 cm) in 2019. Contaminated soils were washed using 0.05M citric acid and tartaric acid using a soil: liquid ratio of 1:25. In order to understand the distribution of Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cd in soils before and after washing, a sequential extraction procedure was applied. Accordingly, five chemical fractions of the studied heavy metals were defined: exchangeable (F1), carbonate (F2), organic (F3), Fe-Mn oxide (F4) and residual (F5). Residual forms were the most important for the retention of all heavy metals. Zn and Cu had the same distribution and fractionation pattern. Cd and Pb had a strong affinity for the Fe-Mn oxide fraction. The washing efficiency varied in the order: Citric Acid˃Tartaric Acid. Citric acid removed 45.55% Zn, 31.04% Pb, 35.64% Ni, 48.7% Cu and 37.2%. Tartaric acid showed extraction efficiency of 3.42% Zn, 16.15% Pb, 26.34% Ni, 28.93% Cu and 18.76% Cd. The Cu, Cd and Ni mobility factor were observed higher than 10 %. The mobility factor for five heavy metals calculated less than 10 %, after washing by citric acid and tartaric acid. The results of this study showed that citric acid and tartaric acid have a deleterious role in the release of heavy metals, and using theses acids is recommended to contaminated soil remediation.

Keywords

Alibrahim Z.O., and Williams C.D. 2016. Assessment of bioavailability of some potential toxic metals in mining-affected soils using EDTA extraction and principle component analysis (PCA) approach, Derbyshire, UK. Interdisciplinary Journal of Chemistry, 1:58-65.
Beckers F., Awad Y.M., Beiyuan J., Abrigata J., Mothes S., Tsang D.C.W., Ok Y.S., and Rinklebe J. 2019. Impact of biochar on mobilization, methylation, and ethylation of mercury under dynamic redox conditions in a contaminated floodplain soil. Environment International, 127:279-290
Elkhatib E.A., Mahdy A.M., Saleh M. E., and Barakat  N.H. 2007. Kinetics of copper desorption from soils as affected by different organic ligands. International Journal of Environmental Science Technology, 4: 331-338.
Fotovat A., and Naidu R. 1998. Changes in composition of soil aqueous phase influence chemistry of indigenous heavy metals in alkaline sodic and acidic soils. Geoderma, 84:213-234.
Gee G.W. and Bauder J.W. 1982. Particle –size analysis. In: Klute A. (Ed): Methods of soil analysis. Part I: Physical and mineralogical methods. 2nd Ed. Am. Soc. Agron. Madison, WI, 383-412.
Gergoric M., Ravaux C., Steenari B.M., Espegren F., and Retegan T. 2018. Leaching and recovery of rare elements of Neodymium management waste using organic acids. Metals, 8:721-738.
Heidari S., Oustan S., Neyshabouri M.R., and Reyhanitabar A. 2015. Mobilization of heavy metals from contaminated calcareous soil using organic acids. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science, 19:141-155.
Jwegbue C.M.A. 2013. Chemical fractionation and mobility of heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of Asphalt plants in Delta State, Nigeria. Environ Forensics, 14:248-259.
Karathanasis A.D., and Pils J.R. 2005. Solid- Phase chemical fractionation of selected trace metals in some Northern Kentucky Soils. Soil and sediment contamination, 14:293-308.
Khodadoust A.P., Reddy K.R., and Maturi K. 2005. Effect of different extraction agents on metal and organic contaminant removal from a field soil. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 117: 15-24.
Kord B., Mataji A., and Babaie  S. 2010. Pine (Pinus eldarica Medw.) Needles as Indicator for Heavy Metals Pollution.International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 7: 79-84.
Kirpichtchikova T.A., Manceau A., Spadini L., Panfili F., Marcus M.A., and Jacquet T. 2006. Speciation and solubility of heavy metals in contaminated soil using X-ray microfluorescence, EXAFS spectroscopy, chemical extraction, and thermodynamic modeling. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70: 2163–2190.
Krishnamurti G.S.R., Huang P.M. Van Rees K.C.I., Korak L., and Rostead H.P.W. 1994. Microwave digestion technique for the determination of total cadmium in soils. Soil Science Plant Analytical, 25:615-625.
Loeppert R.H., and Suarez D.L. 1996. Carbonate and gypsum. In: Sparks D.L. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis. Soil Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp. 437-474.
Moutsatsou A., Gregou M., Matsas  D., and Protonotarios  V.  2006. Washing as a Remediation Technology Applicable in Soils Heavily Polluted by Mining—Metallurgical Activities. Chemosphere, 63: 1632-1640.
Nelson D.W. and Somers L.E. 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Page A.L., Miller R.H., Keeny, D.R.(eds): Methods of soil analysis. Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. 2nd Ed. Am. Soc. Agron. Madison, WI, 538-580.
Niinae M., Nishigaki K., and Aoki K. 2008. Removal of Lead from contaminated soils with chelating agents. Materials Transactions, 49: 2377-2382.
Park J. H., Ok Y. S., and Kim S. H. 2016. Competitive adsorption of heavy metals onto sesame straw biochar in aqueous solutions. Chemosphere, 142:77-83.
Qin F., Shan X., and Wei B. 2004. Effects of low-molecular weight organic acids and residence time on desorption of Cu, Cd, and Pb from soils. Chemosphere, 57: 253–263.
Shuguang W., Yan X., Namkha N., and Zhan W. 2018. Remediation of biochar on heavy metal polluted soils. Earth and Environmental Science, 10: 042113.
Tandy S., Bossart  K., Mueller R., Ritschel J., Hauser L., Schulin R., and Nowack B. 2004. Extraction of heavy metals from soils using biodegradable chelating agents. Environmental Science and Technology, 38: 937-944.
Tomasz Z, Maghdalena P., and Partycja B. 2017. Variability of Zinc, Copper and Lead contents in sludge of the municipal storm water treatment plant. Journal of Environmental and Pollution Research, 24:17145-17152.
Topcuoglu B. 2016. Heavy metal mobility and bioavailability on soil pollution and environmental risks in greenhouse areas. International Journal of Advances in Agricultural & Environmental Engineering, 3:208-213.
Vanek A., Boruvka L., Drabek O., Mihaljevic M., and Komarek M. 2005. Mobility of lead, Zinc and cadmium in alluvial soils heavily polluted by smelting industry. Plant Soil Environment, 51:316-321.
Wasay S.A., Parker W.J., and Van Geel P.J. 2001. Contamination of a calcareous soil by battery industry wastes. II. Treatment, Can. International Journal of Civil Engineering, 28:349–354.
Wuana R.A., Okieimen F.E., and Imborvungu J.A. 2010. Removal of heavy metals from a contaminated soil using organic chelating acids. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 7: 485-496.
Yu J., and Klarup D. 1994. Extraction Kinetics of Copper, Zinc, Iron, and Manganese from Contaminated Sediment Using Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 75: 205-225.