Title: Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils by dissolved organic matter

Authors: Ole K. Borggaard; Peter E. Holm; Bjarne W. Strobel

Addresses: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark ' Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark ' Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark

Abstract: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) isolated from soils enriched in fulvic acid (FA) or from processed organic wastes rich in low-molecular-weight-organic-acids (LMWOAs) was tested as extractant of heavy metals (HMs) from contaminated soils. The test showed that DOM can be as effective as the environmentally problematic, synthetic aminopolycarboxylic acids such as EDTA and NTA. Therefore, DOM is suggested as a possible chelant in remediation of contaminated soils by chelant-enhanced phytoextraction and soil washing. However, the efficiency of DOM as chelant depends on numerous factors, e.g., pH, the soil and DOM compositions and extraction time, which need further studies before DOM can be recommended for practical use in the field.

Keywords: phytoextraction; soil washing; fulvic acid; FA; LMWOAs; citric acid; FA-DOM; LMWOA-DOM; EDTA; NTA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2020.115329

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2020 Vol.16 No.3/4, pp.278 - 288

Accepted: 15 Sep 2020
Published online: 28 May 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article