Synthetic chelants used to induce phytoextraction are barely degraded in the soil and pose high environmental risks owing to metal leaching. Natural chelating agents can be an alternative to synthetic chelates thanks to their rapid biodegrability. The study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of Pb desorption of three synthetic chelators and two natural aliphatic acids from a soil contaminated with Pb from a car battery recycling. Additionally, effects of the amendments on Pb leaching from soil were also […]

Phytoextraction of heavy metals is a promising green technology by which metals are extracted from contaminated soils and transferred to plant shoots. Natural organic acids are an alternative to synthetic chelates since the environmental risks are lower thanks to their biodegradability. The study aimed at evaluating the performance of single and split applications of citric acid on enhancing Pb extraction by maize plants (Zea mays) grown in soil samples from an area contaminated with Pb from battery wastes. The citric […]

Soil contamination is nowadays a problem that requires detailed investigation in order to set up criteria for distinction between natural anomalies and antropogenic contribution. This work was carried out to evaluate zinc distribution and fractions, aiming to identify the origin of high Zn content in soils around mining areas in the Vazante county -MG (Brazil). Soil profiles were sampled in mined areas, and in upslope and downslope positions at depths of 0-2, 2-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-50, 50-100 and 100-150 cm. A […]

The metal pieces of coffins, such as handles and adornments, are considered the main source of soil heavy metal contamination. Other sources of pollutants are the products used in the body embalming, wood preservatives and fluids released from body decomposition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clay fraction mineralogy and heavy metal contents of soils from Santa Cândida Municipal Cemetery, in Curitiba (PR), and estimate the contamination risk. The samples were collected at three depths (0-20, 20-80 […]

The presence of heavy metals can restrict the use of sewage sludge as a source for plant nutrients since they may contaminate soil, aquifers and plants. Urban sewage sludge from the Treatment Station of Ilha do Governador (ETIG), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was enriched with 1.667 mg kg-1 Cd and 8.000 mg kg-1 Zn. After 20 days of incubation under a constant humidity of 50% (g g-1), doses of 0, 20, 40 and 80 t ha-1 were applied to two soil samples (red-yellow Latosol (LV) and red-yellow Argisol […]