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Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 13768

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Wabel

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Guest Editor

Soil Sciences Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: soil and water remediation; biochar synthesis and application; nanoclay; greywater; water treatment and reuse
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Munir Ahmad

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Guest Editor

Soil Sciences Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: engineering/designing and application of biochar for sustainable environment; monitoring, assessment and remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants in soil and water
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Abdullah Alfarraj

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Guest Editor

Soil Sciences Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: soil remediation and rehabilitation; assessing urban soil pollution; monitoring dust pollution; soil minerology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The heavy metal pollution of soil has become a global ecological and environmental concern. Various industrial, mining, and agricultural activities are responsible for the elevated levels of toxic heavy metals in soil systems. Owing to their non-degradability and long-term persistence, the accumulation of heavy metals in soils is posing serious risks to human health, ecosystem functioning, and food safety. Approximately 10 million contaminated sites have been reported globally, occupying approximately 49.42 million acres of land, of which >50% is contaminated with toxic heavy metals. This situation warrants immediate attention to limit the introduction of heavy metals into soil systems and to remove the prevailing heavy metals from polluted soils. However, the majority of existing heavy-metal-removal technologies are expensive, inefficient, or generate secondary pollutants. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop cheaper, environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches (including the development of new immobilizing agents) to manage and rehabilitate heavy-metal-contaminated soils.

In the light of the aforementioned facts, in this Special Issue, original research articles as well as review articles are welcomed. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Recent technologies for sustainable soil remediation and rehabilitation;
Efficient management of heavy-metal-contaminated soils using sustainable and greener technologies;
Immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated agricultural soils for better crop production;
Ecological risks associated with heavy metal uptake by crops and its management;
Stabilization of industrial, mining, and urban contaminated soils;
Designing biochar-based adsorptive materials for the efficient immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils;
Pollution indexing and health risk assessment of soil heavy metals at contaminated sites;
Synthesis and design of new immobilizing agents for the immobilization and rehabilitation of metal-contaminated soils, improving their quality.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Wabel
Dr. Munir Ahmad
Prof. Dr. Abdullah Alfarraj
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

heavy metals remediation
heavy metals stabilization
immobilization
biochar
adsorptive removal
environmental management
soil amendments
adsorbents
risk assessment
compost
toxic trace elements

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Sustainable Approach towards the Restoration of Lead-Contaminated Soils through Nutrient-Doped Olive Waste-Derived Biochar Application

by Muhammad Usama, Muhammad I. Rafique, Jahangir Ahmad, Munir Ahmad, Mohammad I. Al-Wabel and Abdullah S. F. Al-Farraj

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2606; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032606 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1887

Abstract

The current study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of olive mill waste-derived biochar and its silica-embedded and nutrient-loaded derivatives in immobilizing lead (Pb) and improving nutrients availability in contaminated sandy loam soils. Biochar was produced at 500 °C and latterly modified with silica and enriched with nutrients (P and N). An incubation experiment was conducted for a period of 45 days to observe the dynamics in heavy metals and nutrient release. The produced biochar and its modified versions were characterized for physiochemical and structural properties prior to soil application. The results of incubation trials demonstrated that pseudo second-order kinetic model was fitted best to Pb, P, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ release characteristics. Silica embedded and nutrient loaded biochars performed outclass and showed up to 85% decline in Pb release against control treatment. Similarly, 38%, 69% and 59% increase in P, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ availability, respectively, was observed with modified biochars, as compared to 22%, 59% and 32% increase with pristine biochar application, respectively. Overall, silica and nutrient doping of biochar resulted in significantly higher immobilization of Pb in contaminated soil and increased the nutrient availability, which could be helpful in restoring heavy metal contaminated soil and improving soil fertility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment)

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17 pages, 3715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silicon-Rich Biochar Detoxify Multiple Heavy Metals in Wheat by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Subcellular Distribution of Heavy Metal

by Zheyong Li, Yajun Yuan, Luojing Xiang, Qu Su, Zhenyan Liu, Wenguang Wu, Yihao Huang and Shuxin Tu

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16417; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416417 - 8 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2365

Abstract

Silicon is a quasi-essential trace nutrient for plant growth and is frequently employed to remediate soils of heavy metal pollution in agriculture. However, silicon’s role and mechanism in reducing heavy metal toxicity have not been well understood, especially for multi-heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc, lead, and arsenic (usually treated as a heavy metal). In this study, the effects of different silicon-rich materials (silicate, rice husk biochar (RHB), and RHB + bentonite) on growth trait, antioxidant response, heavy metal accumulation, and distribution of wheat grown in two soils polluted by multiple heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, and As) were investigated. The results revealed that the addition of silicon-rich materials enhanced plant growth, improved the photosynthetic attributes in leaf tissues, and decreased the contents of Cd, Zn, Pb, and As in wheat shoots and grains. The examination of the subcellular distribution of heavy metals in plants implied that silicon-rich materials transferred heavy metals as intracellular soluble fractions to the cell walls, indicating the reduction of mobility and toxicity of heavy metals in the plants. In addition, the application of the silicon-rich materials reduced oxidative damage in plants by downregulating plant antioxidant response systems and decreasing the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, fractionation analysis of soil heavy metals showed that silicon-rich amendments could convert bioavailable heavy metals into immobilized forms. With the comparation of different silicon-rich materials, combined RHB and bentonite could better remediate multi-heavy metal-polluted soils and promote wheat production. The effect of the silicate component was stressed in this paper but some of the potential benefits might have arisen from other components of the biochar. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment)

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15 pages, 3595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitigating the Toxic Effects of Chromium on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seed Germination and Seedling Growth by Using Biochar and Polymer-Modified Biochar in Contaminated Soil

by Muhammad I. Rafique, Munir Ahmad, Mohammad I. Al-Wabel, Jahangir Ahmad and Abdullah S. Al-Farraj

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 16093; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316093 - 1 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1937

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential influences of biochar in mitigating the phytotoxic effects of hexavalent chromium (Cr^VI) on the germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Biochar (JBC) was produced from Jujube (Ziziphus jujube L.) wood waste at three different pyrolysis temperatures (300 °C, 500 °C and 700 °C), which was later polymerized (JPBC) via the solution-polymerization method. Phytotoxicity of Cr^VI was induced to wheat seeds at variable Cr^VI application rates (5, 10, 20, 40 mg L⁻¹). Applied Cr^VI concentrations confined the seed germination and seedling growth in order of: 5 < 10 < 20 < 40 mg L⁻¹. The application of JBCs (0.2 g per petri plate) resulted in a 150% increase in shoot length, while dry biomass was increased by 250% with JPBCs application. Uptake of Cr^VI was significantly lower in JBC-300 (7.74 μg/seedling) and JPBC-300 (1.13 μg/seedling) treatments, as compared to control (13.24 μg/seedling), at the highest stress level (40 mg L⁻¹). Therefore, the findings of the current study showed that JBCs and JPBCs performed excellently in improving seedling growth while JPBCs performed more efficiently than pristine JBCs in mitigating Cr^VI phytotoxicity and availability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment)

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16 pages, 4013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functionalized Bentonite Clay Composite with NiAl-Layered Double Hydroxide for the Effective Removal of Cd(II) from Contaminated Water

by Muhammad Shafiq, Abdulrahman Ali Alazba and Muhammad Tahir Amin

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15462; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215462 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2131

Abstract

In this study, the efficiency of functionalized bentonite (F-bentonite) and NiAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH), as well as their nanocomposites, was explored regarding the adsorption of cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) in batch tests. Surface characterization using SEM, EDX, and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful loading of LDH (NiAl) onto the F-bentonite and the adsorption of Cd²⁺ onto the F-bentonite, LDH (NiAl), and LDH/F-bentonite composite adsorbent, suggesting ion exchange and surface precipitation as the main controlling mechanisms of the formation of adsorbent. An equilibrium contact period of 60 min was suggested, with the LDH/F-bentonite composite presenting the highest adsorption capacity and removal effectiveness as compared to the other adsorbents. The LDH/F-bentonite composite also presented the highest removal efficiency and maximum adsorption capacity at an optimum pH value of 7.0. A steady increase in the uptake capacity of Cd²⁺ was observed by increasing the dosage of the adsorbents, with the LDH/F-bentonite composite having the best adsorption capacity. The fitting of the pseudo second-order kinetic model to the adsorption data of Cd²⁺ suggested chemisorption on the adsorbents’ surfaces as the controlling mechanism. The Langmuir isotherm with a near-perfect fitting revealed a monolayer adsorption, while physical adsorption of Cd²⁺ onto all the adsorbents is proposed using the D–R isotherm. Finally, both homogeneous and heterogeneous adsorption systems are proposed for all the adsorbents due to the satisfactory fitting of the Sips and R–P isotherm models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment)

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12 pages, 1128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Bioremediation Potential of Staphlococcus lentus Inoculations of Plants as a Promising Strategy Used to Attenuate Chromium Toxicity

by Nuzhat Jamil, Sajjad Hyder, Mohammad Valipour, Muhammad Yasir, Rashid Iqbal, Rana Roy, Muhammad Umar Zafar and Ambreen Ahmed

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13056; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013056 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2213

Abstract

Current industrial developments, advanced farming techniques, and further anthropogenic activities are adding substantial amounts of heavy metals into the ecosystem and having dangerous effects on lifeforms, including plants and animals, and changing their biological activities. Decontamination following the heavy metal contamination is an important point deserving attention in the current scenario. Among all the other approaches used for this purpose, bioremediation is ecofriendly and green approach that can be used to remediate heavy metal toxicity. In plant cells, the regulation of ionic homeostasis is a primary physiological prerequisite for upholding plant development, growth, and production. To avoid the dreadful effects of toxic heavy metal exposure, plants manifest physiological, biochemical, and structural responses. In the present research, we reported on the isolation and molecular identification of an effective heavy-metal-tolerant bacterial strain, Staphylococcus lentus (E3), having a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 µg/mL for chromium, Cr, taken from soil polluted with industrial effluents at Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial inoculations enhanced all the growth parameters of Triticum aestivum and Helianthus annus. To observe the physiological strain, the proline content and peroxidase (POD) activities were estimated under Cr stress in the bacterial-inoculated plants. The chlorophyll content and Cr uptake in the aerial parts the of plants were also studied, along with the overexpression of proteins. The bacterial inoculations produced encouraging results. Bioremediation using PGPR is an efficient, convincing, and reliable approach to attenuating heavy metal toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment)

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19 pages, 3152 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chrysotile-Asbestos-Induced Damage in Panicum virgatum and Phleum pretense Species and Its Alleviation by Organic-Soil Amendment

by Khansa Saleem, Muhammad Ahsan Asghar, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Ali Raza, Gábor Kocsy, Nadeem Iqbal, Baber Ali, Mohammed Fahad Albeshr and Eijaz Ahmed Bhat

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710824 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 2353

Abstract

Asbestos is an industrially important microfiber present in cement industries and some mining sites and is very toxic to plant growth and development, but it has been neglected over the years. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the hazardous effects of asbestos on the growth and development of two important grass species (switchgrass and timothy grass). In order to mitigate the toxic effects of asbestos, a compost (bio-fertilizer) was also used. The asbestos soil samples were collected within a 10 km area of a cement factory. The results revealed that the asbestos-contaminated soils displayed a considerable increment in heavy metal uptake including chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), arsenic (As), and barium (Ba), which led to stunted plant growth. Consequently, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) were stimulated to kept the redox balance under control. Among all the contaminated soils, the soil that was taken within a 0 Km area, closest to the cement factory, was the most toxic one. However, a compost amendment (25%) as a bio-fertilizer substantially reduced the toxic effects of asbestos fiber on the overall growth and development of plants, by reducing the metals’ uptake. Moreover, it was found that the roots of both grass species experienced higher heavy metal accumulation relative to the shoots. Collectively, it can be proposed that the studied grass species can be used for phytoextraction purposes, since both of them absorbed the heavy metals from the asbestos-contaminated soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment)

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