Does ochre have the potential to be a remedial treatment for As-contaminated soils?

Olimah, J. A., Shaw, L. J. and Hodson, M. E. (2015) Does ochre have the potential to be a remedial treatment for As-contaminated soils? Environmental Pollution, 206. pp. 150-158. ISSN 0269-7491 doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.06.011

Abstract/Summary

Ochre is an iron oxyhydroxide-rich waste that accumulates in water bodies associated with disused mines. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the potential of four different ochres to be used as remedial agents for As contaminated soils. The ochres removed As from solution (200 and 500 mg L−1) in adsorption experiments at pH 3 and 8 and, when added to As contaminated soil (5% w/w) significantly reduced As release to solution. In both these experiments the highest surface area ochres performed best. The impact of ochre amendments on uptake of As from soil by plants and humans and release of As to ground water was assessed in a year-long incubation study. Ochres increased soil pH and reduced CaCl2 extractable As but had no consistent effect on plant growth, plant As uptake or As extraction in physiologically-based extraction tests. Ochre may be better used for water treatment than soil remediation.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/40747
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Publisher	Elsevier
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