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Comparison of the solubilizing efficiencies of some pH lowering (sulphur and (NH4)2SO4) amendments on Cd and Zn mobility in soils.

Comparison of the solubilizing efficiencies of some pH lowering (sulphur and (NH4)2SO4) amendments on Cd and Zn mobility in soils.

Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology (2014-06-25)

Emmanuel Amoakwah, Stijn Van Slycken, David K Essumang

ABSTRACT

The use of conventional methods to clean up the soil is very expensive and destructive to the ecosystem. The concept of phytoextraction has been introduced to safely manage soils contaminated with heavy metals. However, using plants to remediate polluted soils is a lengthy process. This has necessitated the use of amendments to potentially enhance solubilization of metals in order to increase their bioavailability in the soil solution. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of some selected pH lowering amendments [elemental sulphur and (NH4)2SO4] on the solubility and availability of Cd and Zn. The application of these amendments resulted in a decrease in the pH of the soil. The decrease in pH significantly enhanced the solubilization and the mobility of Cd and Zn into the soil solution. The CaCl2 extraction protocol was employed to study the effects of the various amendments on the mobility of Cd and Zn.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc, foil, thickness 1.0 mm, 99.99% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc, shot, <12 mm, 99.99% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc, shot, 5 mm, 99.999% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Ammonium-¹⁴N₂ sulfate solution, 40 wt. % in H₂O, 99.99 atom % ¹⁴N

Sigma-Aldrich

Ammonium sulfate-¹⁴N₂ solution, 40 wt. % in H₂O, 99.99 atom % ¹⁴N

Zinc, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.075mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, wire reel, 1m, diameter 1.0mm, 99.99+%

Sigma-Aldrich

Zinc, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. ISO, reag. Ph. Eur., ≥99.9%, granular

Zinc, wire reel, 100m, diameter 1.0mm, extruded, 99.9%

Zinc, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Sigma-Aldrich

sulfur powder, 99.998% trace metals basis

Zinc, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.175mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 6mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

Zinc, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.1mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.25mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

Zinc, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.005mm, 99.9%

Zinc, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.02mm, 99.9%

Zinc, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 1.0mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.0025mm, 99.9%

Zinc, foil, 25mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

Zinc, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.20mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.25mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.15mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 25mm disks, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.25mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

Zinc, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 2.0mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 0.3m coil, thickness 0.175mm, as rolled, 99.95+%

Zinc, foil, 25mm disks, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 99.99+%