Utilizing biochars to stabilize mercury in contaminated floodplain sediment: Implications on mercury remediation

Jensen, Brittany E.; Spencer, Breann; Xu, Xiaoyu

doi:10.1002/jeq2.20616

Title: Utilizing biochars to stabilize mercury in contaminated floodplain sediment: Implications on mercury remediation

Journal Article · 20 August 2024 · Journal of Environmental Quality

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20616 · OSTI ID:2439324

Jensen, Brittany E. ^[1]; Spencer, Breann ^[1];

^[1]

Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA

Abstract Major weather events contribute to the mobility and remobilization of legacy mercury (Hg) contamination and sequestration within sediments. Remediation using biochar as a soil amendment is a useful technique to immobilize and decrease Hg toxicity. This study explored whether biochar application is effective at stabilizing labile mercury (LaHg) from floodplain sediment. Controlled mesocosms simulating contamination events and flooding conditions were conducted. Floodplain sediment, which experiences annual periodic flooding, was collected. Sediment was spiked with inorganic Hg, applied with different types of biochar, and experienced simulated flooding events. Four types of biochar, pure rice husk (RH), pure peanut hull (PH), sulfur‐modified rice husk (SMRH), and sulfur‐modified peanut hull (SMPH), were applied at 10 and 40 g/kg rates (i.e., RH 10, RH 40; PH 10, PH 40, SMRH 10, SMRH 40, SMPH 10, SMPH 40). Total Hg, methylmercury, and LaHg concentrations were analyzed by coupling with redox potential measurements. Results indicate that SMRH 10, PH 10, PH 40, SMPH 10, and SMPH 40 successfully remediate Hg by stabilizing and reducing LaHg species from floodplain sediment. However, a high Hg methylation potential was observed with unsulfated and sulfated peanut hulls (PH 10, PH 40, SMPH 10, and SMPH 40), as they tend to create a reducing microenvironment that favors sulfate reduction reactions. Additionally, sulfur‐modified biochar tends to promote Hg methylation potential at high application rates (i.e., 40 g/kg). We thus recommend using SMRH at a relatively low application rate (SMRH 10) for the remediation of Hg from floodplain sediment.

View Journal Article

Cite

Export

Save

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EM0004391

OSTI ID:: 2439324

Journal Information:: Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 53; ISSN 0047-2425

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (40)

The role of humic substances in the aqueous mobilization of mercury from contaminated floodplain soils Wallschl�ger, Dirk; Desai, Madhukar V. M.; Wilken, Rolf-Dieter Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, Vol. 90, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282665	journal	August 1996
Mercury in the Swedish environment ? Recent research on causes, consequences and corrective methods Lindqvist, Oliver; Johansson, Kjell; Bringmark, Lage Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Vol. 55, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00542429	journal	January 1991
A Review of Flood-Related Storage and Remobilization of Heavy Metal Pollutants in River Systems Ciszewski, Dariusz; Grygar, Tomáš Matys Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Vol. 227, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-016-2934-8	journal	June 2016
Binding and mobility of mercury in soils contaminated by emissions from chlor-alkali plants Biester, H.; Müller, G.; Schöler, H. F. Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 284, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00885-3	journal	February 2002
Biochar: Potential for countering land degradation and for improving agriculture Barrow, C. J. Applied Geography, Vol. 34 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.09.008	journal	May 2012
Sorption of mercury (II) and atrazine by biochar, modified biochars and biochar based activated carbon in aqueous solution Tan, Guangcai; Sun, Weiling; Xu, Yaru Bioresource Technology, Vol. 211 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.147	journal	July 2016
Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: A review Ahmad, Mahtab; Rajapaksha, Anushka Upamali; Lim, Jung Eun Chemosphere, Vol. 99 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.071	journal	March 2014
Mechanisms of metal sorption by biochars: Biochar characteristics and modifications Li, Hongbo; Dong, Xiaoling; da Silva, Evandro B. Chemosphere, Vol. 178 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.072	journal	July 2017
Higher and more variable methylmercury biomagnification factors for floodplain than the contiguous river (South River, Virginia USA) Wang, Jincheng; Newman, Michael C.; Xu, Xiaoyu Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Vol. 92 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.04.023	journal	June 2013
Impact of biochar on mobilization, methylation, and ethylation of mercury under dynamic redox conditions in a contaminated floodplain soil Beckers, Felix; Awad, Yasser Mahmoud; Beiyuan, Jingzi Environment International, Vol. 127 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.040	journal	June 2019
Rice hull biochar enhances the mobilization and methylation of mercury in a soil under changing redox conditions: Implication for Hg risks management in paddy fields Xing, Ying; Wang, Jianxu; Kinder, Christoph E. S. Environment International, Vol. 168 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107484	journal	October 2022
Floodplain methylmercury biomagnification factor higher than that of the contiguous river (South River, Virginia USA) Newman, Michael C.; Xu, Xiaoyu; Condon, Anne Environmental Pollution, Vol. 159, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.04.045	journal	October 2011
A 200 km-long mercury contamination of the Paglia and Tiber floodplain: Monitoring results and implications for environmental management Rimondi, V.; Costagliola, P.; Lattanzi, P. Environmental Pollution, Vol. 255 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113191	journal	December 2019
Microbial community analysis of anaerobic bio-corrosion in different ORP profiles Chang, Yu-Jie; Chang, Yi-Tang; Hung, Chun-Hsiung International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Vol. 95 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.04.008	journal	November 2014
Do constructed wetlands remove metals or increase metal bioavailability? Xu, Xiaoyu; Mills, Gary L. Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 218 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.04.014	journal	July 2018
Mechanisms of mercury removal by biochars produced from different feedstocks determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy Liu, Peng; Ptacek, Carol J.; Blowes, David W. Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 308 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.01.007	journal	May 2016
Thiol-modified biochar synthesized by a facile ball-milling method for enhanced sorption of inorganic Hg2+ and organic CH3Hg+ Lyu, Honghong; Xia, Siyu; Tang, Jingchun Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 384 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121357	journal	February 2020
Mitigation of mercury accumulation in rice using rice hull-derived biochar as soil amendment: A field investigation Xing, Ying; Wang, Jianxu; Shaheen, Sabry M. Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 388 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121747	journal	April 2020
Biochar application for the remediation of heavy metal polluted land: A review of in situ field trials O'Connor, David; Peng, Tianyue; Zhang, Junli Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 619-620 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.132	journal	April 2018
Sulfur-modified rice husk biochar: A green method for the remediation of mercury contaminated soil O'Connor, David; Peng, Tianyue; Li, Guanghe Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 621 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.213	journal	April 2018
Review of biochar for the management of contaminated soil: Preparation, application and prospect Yuan, Peng; Wang, Jianqiao; Pan, Yijun Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 659 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.400	journal	April 2019
Mercury speciation, bioavailability, and biomagnification in contaminated streams on the Savannah River Site (SC, USA) Xu, Xiaoyu; Bryan, Albert L.; Mills, Gary L. Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 668 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.301	journal	June 2019
Mechanistic investigation of mercury removal by unmodified and Fe-modified biochars based on synchrotron-based methods Feng, Yu; Liu, Peng; Wang, Yanxin Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 719 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137435	journal	June 2020
Biochar effects on soil biota – A review Lehmann, Johannes; Rillig, Matthias C.; Thies, Janice Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Vol. 43, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.04.022	journal	September 2011
Application of diffusive gradient in thin films technique (DGT) to measurement of mercury in aquatic systems Docekalova, H.; Divis, P. Talanta, Vol. 65, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2004.08.054	journal	March 2005
In situ, High-Resolution Measurement of Dissolved Sulfide Using Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films with Computer-Imaging Densitometry Teasdale, Peter R.; Hayward, Sean; Davison, William Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 71, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1021/ac981329u	journal	April 1999
Development of Biochar-Based Functional Materials: Toward a Sustainable Platform Carbon Material Liu, Wu-Jun; Jiang, Hong; Yu, Han-Qing Chemical Reviews, Vol. 115, Issue 22 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00195	journal	October 2015
Insight into Multiple and Multilevel Structures of Biochars and Their Potential Environmental Applications: A Critical Review Xiao, Xin; Chen, Baoliang; Chen, Zaiming Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 52, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b06487	journal	April 2018
Geochemical Controls on the Production and Distribution of Methylmercury in Near-Shore Marine Sediments Hammerschmidt, Chad R.; Fitzgerald, William F. Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 38, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1021/es034528q	journal	March 2004
Size and Density Distribution of Sulfide-Producing Microniches in Lake Sediments Widerlund, Anders; Davison, William Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 41, Issue 23 https://doi.org/10.1021/es071510x	journal	December 2007
In-situ Sorbent Amendments: A New Direction in Contaminated Sediment Management Ghosh, Upal; Luthy, Richard G.; Cornelissen, Gerard Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 45, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1021/es102694h	journal	February 2011
Mechanistic Investigation of Mercury Sorption by Brazilian Pepper Biochars of Different Pyrolytic Temperatures Based on X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Flow Calorimetry Dong, Xiaoling; Ma, Lena Q.; Zhu, Yingjia Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1021/es4017816	journal	October 2013
Evaluation of Biochars and Activated Carbons for In Situ Remediation Of Sediments Impacted With Organics, Mercury, And Methylmercury Gomez-Eyles, Jose L.; Yupanqui, Carmen; Beckingham, Barbara Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 23 https://doi.org/10.1021/es403712q	journal	November 2013
Cosorption of Phenanthrene and Mercury(II) from Aqueous Solution by Soybean Stalk-Based Biochar Kong, Huoliang; He, Jiao; Gao, Yanzheng Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 59, Issue 22 https://doi.org/10.1021/jf202924a	journal	October 2011
Conflicting processes in the wetland plant rhizosphere: Metal retention or mobilization? Jacob, Donna L.; Otte, Marinus L. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus, Vol. 3, Issue 1, p. 91-104 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022138919019	journal	January 2003
In situ speciation measurements of trace components in natural waters using thin-film gels Davison, W.; Zhang, H. Nature, Vol. 367, Issue 6463 https://doi.org/10.1038/367546a0	journal	February 1994
Interactions between biochar stability and soil organisms: review and research needs: Biochar stability and soil organisms Ameloot, N.; Graber, E. R.; Verheijen, F. G. A. European Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 64, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12064	journal	July 2013
Biogeochemistry of Wetlands Reddy, K. Ramesh; DeLaune, Ronald D. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203491454	book	July 2008
Mercury Speciation in Floodplain Soils and Sediments along a Contaminated River Transect Wallschläger, Dirk; Desai, Madhukar V. M.; Spengler, Markus Journal of Environment Quality, Vol. 27, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1998.00472425002700050008x	journal	January 1998
Flooding in the future – predicting climate change, risks and responses in urban areas Ashley, R. M.; Balmforth, D. J.; Saul, A. J. Water Science and Technology, Vol. 52, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0142	journal	September 2005

Similar Records

Dissolved organic matter reduces the effectiveness of sorbents for mercury removal

Journal Article · 2019 · Science of the Total Environment · OSTI ID:1542235

Johs, Alexander; Eller, Virginia A.; Mehlhorn, Tonia L.; +5 more

Microbial methylation of mercury in estuarine sediments

Thesis/Dissertation · 1984 · OSTI ID:6069130

Compeau, G C

Non-mercury methylating microbial taxa are integral to understanding links between mercury methylation and elemental cycles in marine and freshwater sediments

Journal Article · 2024 · Environmental Pollution · OSTI ID:2317791

Wang, Yong-Li; Ikuma, Kaoru; Brooks, Scott C.; +2 more

Title: Utilizing biochars to stabilize mercury in contaminated floodplain sediment: Implications on mercury remediation

Citation Formats

References (40)

Similar Records

Related Subjects