Simultaneous removal of toxic metals by washing and soil enrichment with organic by‑products in a closed process

Gluhar, Simon (avtor), Kaurin, Anela (avtor), Zupanc, Vesna (avtor), Gantar, Anja (avtor), Fojkar, Barbara (avtor), Leštan, Domen (avtor)

A novel approach to soil remediation has been developed in which soil washing and the addition of organic by-products are carried out simultaneously in a single step. This method was tested on soil contaminated with Cd, Pb and Zn. The soil was washed in batches (35 kg soil/batch) with ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na-, Ca-EDTA), sulfuric acid, and the reducing agent Na-dithionite, while organic by-products such as chicken manure, spent mushroom substrate, and corn cobs (2–5%) were mixed homogeneously into the soil. Results showed that this approach not only removed significant amounts of contaminants (58% Cd, 61% Pb and 12% Zn), but also improved soil properties, including increasing the amount of plant-available water, reducing leaching of residual toxic metals, reducing uptake of toxic metals in Brassica juncea and increasing β-glucosidase and dehydrogenase activity. The addition of organic by-products also prevented the accumulation of Na in the process after a series of batches and enabled the recycling (ReSoil® method) and continuous reuse of EDTA and the process solutions. However, the treatment also had a negative impact on plant growth, reducing the growth of Brassica juncea by 44%. Overall, this innovative approach is promising for effective and sustainable soil remediation, but further research is needed to optimize the process and minimize its impact on plant growth.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: čiščenje tal, toksične kovine, pranje tal, onesnažena tla, remediacija
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 18 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 23, art. 452
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182604
• UDK: 502.1
• ISSN pri članku: 1735-1472
• COBISS.SI-ID: 278579971
• Datum objave v RUL: 19.05.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: International journal of environmental science and technology
• Skrajšan naslov: Int. j. environ. sci. technol.
• Založnik: Iranian Society of Environmentalists, Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies
• ISSN: 1735-1472
• COBISS.SI-ID: 516000281

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: chelator recycling, contaminated soil, remediation, slurry, soil improvement

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J4-60071
• Naslov: Remediacija z bakrom onesnaženih tal v zaprtem krožnem procesu kot trajnostna rešitev v vinogradništvu

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P4-0085
• Naslov: Agroekosistemi