Effect of modified coconut shell biochar on availability of heavy metals and biochemical characteristics of soil in multiple heavy metals contaminated soil
Abstract
On account of the potential in immobilizing metals and improving soil environment, various biochar materials have been extensively applied in environmental remediation. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of modified coconut shell biochar (MCSB) on the availability of metals and soil biological activity in multi-metals (cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn)) contaminated soil. MCSB was obtained from coconut shell biochar (CSB) by hydrochloric acid pickling and ultrasonication, which has significantly improved its surface functional groups and microcosmic pore structure. Sandy soil samples were incubated at 25 °C amended with MCSB or CSB by 0%, 2.5% and 5% addition for 63 days, respectively. The results showed that the acid soluble Cd, Ni and Zn decreased by 30.1%, 57.2% and 12.7%, respectively, in groups with 5% MCSB addition, which indicated MCSB had a better effect on immobilizing metals compared with CSB. In addition, higher soil biological activities were detected in different treatments compared with control (CK). Especially, the maximum bacterial number was found in 5% MCSB treatment, which increased by 149.43% compared with CK. Accordingly, our results suggested that MCSB could be used as an ameliorant to immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soils and improve soil physicochemical and biological properties.
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Chemical modification of biochar using strong acids such as HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, and H3PO4 can alter the porous surface structure and increase the density of free carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, thereby enhancing adsorption capacity.
“Chemical modification of biochar using strong acids like HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, and H3PO4 can alter the porous structure of the surface and increase the density of free carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity [19-21].”
From Insight into the Adsorption Behavior of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from Mud by HCl-Modified Coconut Shell Biochar: Experimental and DFT Studies (2025) · cites this paper as [19]
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“The acid-soluble Cd, Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) elements were decreased by 30.1%, 57.2%, and 12.7%, respectively (Liu et al. 2018a).”
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- Authors
- Liu, H., Xu, F., Xie, Y., Wang, C., Zhang, A., Li, L., & Xu, H.
- Affiliations
- Sichuan University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Xu, Heng
- Venue
- Science of The Total Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-12
- Volume
- 645
- Pages
- 702-709
- ISSN
- 0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2884703259
- Cited by
- 274
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 18
- FWCI
- 8.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Science and Technology Supportive Project of Sichuan Province (2016NZ0050, 2018RZ0110)
- Agricultural science and Technology Achievements Transformation Program of Sichuan Province (2017NZZJ008)
- Key Research and Development Program of Sichuan Province (2017SZ0188, 2017SZ0181)
- National Science and Technology Supporting Program (2015BAD05B01-5)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Studies
- Keywords
- heavy metal immobilization, cadmium, nickel, zinc, multi-metal contaminated soil, hydrochloric acid pickling, sonication, soil microbial activity, soil bacterial abundance, soil physicochemical properties, sandy soil, soil amendment
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