Project Title
Effect of amendments on the transport and leaching of heavy metals and nutrients in polluted soils
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Dr. Sam Mutiti
Abstract
Mining practices have greatly increased the presence of heavy metals in the environment, leading to damage of important ecosystems. In some areas the heavy metals are concentrated in the top layer of the soil rendering them unusable. This project assesses how different soil amendments affect availability and mobilization of iron, zinc, lead, copper, nitrates, and phosphates in soils. This project also investigates the effect of remediation on leaching of heavy metals and nutrients from polluted soils into the groundwater. Groundwater is one of the main sources of freshwater and needs protection. To investigate the influence of soil amendments on the leaching of heavy metals, a greenhouse pot-study where heavy metal-contaminated soils, biochar and compost are being used in conjunction with hyperaccumulator plants is being conducted. This study will help increase our understanding of the mobilization and downward transport of leached copper and lead etc. in contaminated soils. Heavy metal concentrations of the soils are analyzed at the beginning and end of the study using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, while leachate is analyzed using spectrophotometry and chromatography. The initial soil concentrations for lead ranged from 2000 ppm to 6000 ppm while for copper the range was from 50 ppm to 280 ppm.
Effect of amendments on the transport and leaching of heavy metals and nutrients in polluted soils
Mining practices have greatly increased the presence of heavy metals in the environment, leading to damage of important ecosystems. In some areas the heavy metals are concentrated in the top layer of the soil rendering them unusable. This project assesses how different soil amendments affect availability and mobilization of iron, zinc, lead, copper, nitrates, and phosphates in soils. This project also investigates the effect of remediation on leaching of heavy metals and nutrients from polluted soils into the groundwater. Groundwater is one of the main sources of freshwater and needs protection. To investigate the influence of soil amendments on the leaching of heavy metals, a greenhouse pot-study where heavy metal-contaminated soils, biochar and compost are being used in conjunction with hyperaccumulator plants is being conducted. This study will help increase our understanding of the mobilization and downward transport of leached copper and lead etc. in contaminated soils. Heavy metal concentrations of the soils are analyzed at the beginning and end of the study using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, while leachate is analyzed using spectrophotometry and chromatography. The initial soil concentrations for lead ranged from 2000 ppm to 6000 ppm while for copper the range was from 50 ppm to 280 ppm.