Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect mechanism of biochar’s zeta potential on farmland soil’s cadmium immobilization

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In situ passivation of heavy metals by biochar mainly focuses on the effect of biochar’s pH, surface oxygen-containing functional groups (OCFGs), and ash content. In this paper, starting with the measurement of biochar’s electrical properties under different pyrolysis atmospheres and temperatures, the changes in the zeta potential of biochar and the consequent effects on cadmium immobilization in soil are studied. The results show that the zeta potential of biochar from the pyrolysis of high temperature (800 °C) is higher than that of biochar at low temperatures, so its electronegativity is weaker than that of biochar at low temperatures, but the protective effect on wheat is stronger than that of biochar obtained at low temperatures. The zeta potential of biochar obtained under a CO2 atmosphere was higher than that of biochar prepared under a N2 atmosphere, so its protective effect on wheat was stronger than that of biochar under N2. The reason is that biochar particles with a high zeta potential and weak electronegativity have higher cohesion and are better at in situ passivation of Cd in soils. Namely, biochar obtained at high pyrolysis temperatures (800 °C) and prepared under a CO2 atmosphere has better effect on Cd immobilization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad M, Lee SS, Yang JE, Ro HM, Lee YH, Ok YS (2012) Effects of soil dilution and amendments (mussel shell, cow bone, and biochar) on Pb availability and phytotoxicity in military shooting range soil. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 79:225–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad M, Rajapaksha AU, Lim JE, Zhang M, Bolan N, Mohan D, Vithanage M, Lee SS, Ok YS (2014) Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: a review. Chemosphere 99:19–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway BJ (2013) Heavy metals in soils. Springer, Netherlands

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Azuara M, Sáiz E, Manso JA, García-Ramos FJ, Manyà JJ (2017) Study on the effects of using a carbon dioxide atmosphere on the properties of vine shoots-derived biochar. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 124:719–725

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bekhit HM, Hassan AE (2005) Two-dimensional modeling of contaminant transport in porous media in the presence of colloids. AdvWater Resour 28(12):1320–1335

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya KG, Gupta SS (2008) Adsorption of a few heavy metals on natural and modified kaolinite and montmorillonite: a review. Adv Colloid Interf Sci 140(2):114–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolan N, Kunhikrishnan A, Thangarajan R, Kumpiene J, Park J, Makino T, Kirkham MB, Scheckel K (2014) Remediation of heavy metal(loid)s contaminated soils - to mobilize or to immobilize? Hazard Mater 266:141–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao X, Ma L, Liang Y, Gao B, Harris W (2011) Simultaneous immobilization of lead and atrazine in contaminated soils using dairy-manure biochar. Environ Sci Technol 45:4884–4889

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao CC, Lv JW, Xia LS (2012) Research progress of effect of soil colloids on uranium migration in leachate. Nucl & Radiochem CHN 34(1): 1–7

  • Chen ZM, Fang Y, Xu YL, Chen BL (2012) Adsorption of Pb2+ by rice straw derived-biochar and its influential factors. Acta Sci Circumst 32:769–776

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Jonge LW, Kjaergaard C, Moldrup P (2004) Colloids and colloid-facilitated transport of contaminants in soils: an introduction. Vadose Zone J 3(2):321–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du Y, Wang X, Ji X (2018) Effectiveness and potential risk of CaO application in Cd-contaminated paddy soil. Chemosphere:S004565351830643X

  • Fang QL, Chen BL, Lin YJ, Guan YT (2013) Aromatic and hydrophobic surfaces of wood-derived biochar enhance perchlorate adsorption via hydrogen bonding to oxygen containing organic groups. Environ Sci Technol 48:279–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fellet G, Marmiroli M, Marchiol L (2014) Elements uptake by metal accumulator species grown on mine tailings amended with three types of biochar. Sci Total Environ 598:468–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao B, Cao X, Dong Y, Luo Y, Ma LQ (2011) Colloid deposition and release in soils and their association with heavy metals. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 41(4):336–372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Georg G, Andrej R, Olga S (2008) Storage and mobility of black carbon in permafrost soils of the forest tundra ecotone in Northern Siberia. Glob Chang Biol 14(6):1367–1381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert P, Ryu C, Sharifi V, Swithenbank J (2009) Tar reduction in pyrolysis vapours from biomass over a hot char bed. Bioresour Technol 100(23):6045–6051

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godt J, Scheidig F, Grosse-Siestrup C, Esche V, Brandenburg P, Reich A, Groneberg DA (2006) The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health. Occup Med Toxicol 10:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Guizani C, Sanz FE, Salvador S (2014) Effects of CO2 on biomass fast pyrolysis: reaction rate, gas yields and char reactive properties. Fuel 116:310–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley W, Dickinson NM, Riby P, Lepp NW (2009) Arsenic mobility in brownfield soils amended with green waste compost or biochar and planted with Miscanthus. Environ Pollut 157:2654–2662

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hockaday WC, Grannas AM, Kim SH (2007) The transformation and mobility of charcoal in a fire-impacted watershed. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 71(14):3432–3445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houben D, Evrard L, Sonnet P (2013) Mobility, bioavailability and pH-dependent leaching of cadmium, zinc and lead in a contaminated soil amended with biochar. Chemosphere 92:1450–1457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter RJ (1981) Zeta potential in colloid science – principles and applications. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilona H, Iso C, Ruben K (2005) Sorption of Cu and Pb to kaolinite-fulvic acid colloids: assessment of sorbent interactions. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69:1675–1686

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarup L (2003) Hazards of heavy metal contamination. Br Med Bull 68:167–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang TY, Jiang J, Xu RK, Li Z (2012) Adsorption of Pb(II) on variable charge soils amended with rice-straw derived biochar. Chemosphere 89:249–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jung C, Boateng LK, Flora JRV, Oh J, Braswell MC, Son A, Yoon Y (2015) Competitive adsorption of selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on activated biochars: experimental and molecular modeling study. Chem Eng 264:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Chao C, Waqas M, Arp HPH, Zhu YG (2013) Sewage sludge biochar influence upon rice (Oryza sativa L) yield, metal bioaccumulation and greenhouse gas emissions from acidic paddy soil. Environ Sci Technol 47:8624–8632

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumari K, Moldrup P, Paradelo M, Elsgaard L, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, de Jonge L (2014) Effects of biochar on air and water permeability and colloid and phosphorus leaching in soils from a natural calcium carbonate gradient. J Environ Qual 43(2):647–657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Yang X, Song H, Yong SO, Kwon EE (2016) Effects of carbon dioxide on pyrolysis of peat. Energy 120:929–936

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Ma Z, van der Kujip TJ, Yuan Z, Huang L (2014a) A review of soil heavy metal pollution from mines in China: pollution and health risk assessment. Sci Total Environ 468-469:843–853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Shao J, Wang X, Deng Y, Yang H, Chen H (2014b) Characterization of modified biochars derived from bamboo pyrolysis and their utilization for target component (Furfural) adsorption. Energy Fuel 28:5119–5127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li HB, Dong XL, Silva EB, Oliveira LM, Chen YS, Ma LQ (2017) Mechanisms of metal sorption by biochars: biochar characteristics and modifications. Chemosphere 178:466–478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin Y, Munroe P, Joseph S, Ziolkowski A, van Zwieten L, Kimberc S, Rust J (2013) Chemical and structural analysis of enhanced biochars: thermally treated mixtures of biochar, chicken litter, clay and minerals. Chemosphere 91(1):35–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu LY, Tan ZX, Ye ZX (2018) Transformation and transport mechanism of nitrogenous compounds in a biochar ‘preparation- returning to the field’ process studied by employing an isotope tracer method. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 6(2):acssuschemeng.7b03172

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu K, Yang X, Shen J (2014) Effect of bamboo and rice straw biochars on the bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn to Sedum plumbizincicola. Agric Ecosyst Environ 191:124–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nartey OD, Zhao BW (2018) Biochar preparation, characterization, and adsorptive capacity and its effect on bioavailability of contaminants: an overview. Adv Mater Sci Eng Article ID 715398

  • Qiao J, Sun H, Luo X (2017) EDTA-assisted leaching of Pb and Cd from contaminated soil. Chemosphere 167:422–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Regmi P, Garcia Moscoso JL, Kumar S, Cao X, Mao J (2012) Removal of copper and cadmium from aqueous solution using switchgrass biochar produced via hydrothermal carbonization process. J Environ Manag 109(17):61–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen X, Huang DY, Ren XF (2016) Phytoavailability of Cd and Pb in crop straw biochar-amended soil is related to the heavy metal content of both biochar and soil. J Environ Manag 168(1):245–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun HW, Zhang YF, Zhang W (2013) Biochar and environment. Chemical Industry Press, Beijing China

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan Z, Wang Y, Kasiulienė A, Huang C, Ai P (2017a) Cadmium removal potential by rice straw-derived magnetic biochar. Clean Techn Environ Policy 19:761–774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan Z, Wang Y, Zhang L, Huang Q (2017b) Study of the mechanism of remediation of Cd-contaminated soil by novel biochars. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:24844–24855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan ZX, Ye ZX, Zhang LM (2017c) Application of the 15N tracer method to study the effect of pyrolysis temperature and atmosphere on the distribution of biochar nitrogen in the biomass–biochar-plant system. Sci Total Environ 79:622–623

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang XC, Chen JL, Zhang M (2014) Effect of biochar on the remediation of Cu, Pb, Cd contaminated soil. GD Agr Sci CHN 41(12):67–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang X, Li Q, Wu M, Lin L, Scholz M (2016) Review of remediation practices regarding cadmium-enriched farmland soil with particular reference to China. Environ Manag 181:646–662

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchimiya M, Wartelle LH, Klasson T, Fortier CA, Lima IM (2011a) Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil. Agric Food Chem 59:2501–2510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchimiya M, Klasson KT, Wartelle LH, Lima IM (2011b) Influence of soil properties on heavy metal sequestration by biochar amendment: 1 copper sorption isotherms and the release of cations. Chemosphere 82:1431–1437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchimiya M, Bannon DI, Wartelle LH, Lima IM, Klasson KT (2012) Lead retention by broiler litter biochars in small arms range soil: impact of pyrolysis temperature. Agric Food Chem 60:5035–5044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Zhang W, Hao X, Zhou D (2013) Transport of biochar particles in saturated granular media: effects of pyrolysis temperature and particle size. Environ Sci Technol 47(2):821–828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen JG, Xue FL, Da SL, Ying MX, Ling W, Yue BS, Xu Q (2013) Adsorption of Cd2+ on biochar from aqueous solution. Environ Sci 34:3716–3721

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Yang M, Feng Q, McGrouther K, Wang H, Lu H, Chen Y (2012) Chemical characterization of rice straw-derived biochar for soil amendment. Biomass Bioenergy 47:268–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong Y, Xu JQ (1983) Soil colloid. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu P, Sun CX, Ye XZ (2016) The effect of biochar and crop straws on heavy metal bioavailability and plant accumulation in a Cd and Pb polluted soil. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 132:94–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan L, Kong L, Qu Z, Li L, Shen G (2015) Magnetic biochar decorated with ZnS nanocrytals for Pb (II) removal. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 3(1):125–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang QW, Lan CY, Shu WS (2008) Copper and Zinc in a paddy field and their potential ecological impacts affected by wastewater from a lead/zinc mine. P R China. Environ Monit Assess 147:65–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Hao DD, Dong-Hao XU (2017) Transport and retention of biochar particles in saturated porous media Chinese. J Soil Sci 48(2):304–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan SN, Tan ZX, Huang QY (2018) Migration and transformation mechanism of nitrogen in the biomass–biochar–plant transport process. Renew Sust Energ Rev 85:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zama EF, Zhu YG, Reid BJ, Sun GX (2017) The role of biochar properties in influencing the sorption and desorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and As(III) in aqueous solution. J Clean Prod 148:127–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LX, Matsuhara T, Kudo S, Hayashi JI, Norinaga K (2013) Rapid pyrolysis of brown coal in a drop-tube reactor with co-feeding of char as a promoter of in situ, tar reforming. Fuel 112(3):681–686

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H, Wang ZY, Zhao J, Herbert S, Xing BS (2018) Sorption of antibiotic sulfamethoxazole varies with biochar produced at different temperatures. Environ Pollut 181:60–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0800702, 2018YFD0800703), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41571283), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2662018PY078)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

    Mengfan Hong, Limei Zhang, Zhongxin Tan & Qiaoyun Huang

Authors
  1. Mengfan Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Limei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhongxin Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qiaoyun Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Limei Zhang or Zhongxin Tan.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hong, M., Zhang, L., Tan, Z. et al. Effect mechanism of biochar’s zeta potential on farmland soil’s cadmium immobilization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 19738–19748 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05298-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05298-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation