Phosphorus retention on forest and vineyard soil samples, mussel shell, pine-sawdust, and on pyritic, granitic and waste materials

Geoderma, 280 (2016) 8–13

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.06.003

Focusing on P, we used batch-type experiments to study P retention on various materials: a forest soil sample, a vineyard soil sample, finely and coarsely ground mussel shell, pine-sawdust, pyritic material, granitic material, mussel shell calcination ash, slate processing fines, and three different mixtures that included three components: sewage sludge, mussel shell ash, and calcined mussel shell or pine wood ash. The pyritic material and the mussel shell ash showed the highest P retention capacity, reaching > 95%. The lowest P retention (< 60%) corresponded to the pine-sawdust and slate processing fines. Data fitted satisfactorily to the Freundlich model, unless in the case of pine-sawdust and slate fines; however, only forest and vineyard soil samples can be satisfactorily adjusted to the Langmuir model. These results could be useful to program appropriate management practices, especially when focusing on controlling P concentrations in different environmental compartments, as well as to correctly recycle the by-products and waste materials assayed.

F sorption/desorption on two soils and on different by-products and waste materials

Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2016) 23, 14676–14685

DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6959-8

We used batch-type experiments to study F sorption/desorption on a forest soil, a vineyard soil, pyritic material, granitic material, finely and coarsely ground mussel shell, mussel shell calcination ash, oak wood ash, pine-sawdust, slate processing fines, and three different mixtures that included three components: sewage sludge, mussel shell ash, and calcined mussel shell or pine wood ash. The three waste mixtures, forest soil, pyritic material, and shell ash showed high sorption capacity (73–91 % of added F) and low desorption, even when 100 mg F L−1 was added. All these materials (and to a lower extent wood ash) could be useful to remove F from polluted media (as certain soils, dumping sites, and contaminated waters). The vineyard soil, the granitic material, mussel shell, slate fines, and pine-sawdust were less effective in F removal. In most cases, sorption data fitted better to the Freundlich than to the Langmuir equation. These results can be useful to program the correct management of the soils, by-products, and waste materials assayed, mostly in situations where F concentrations are excessive and F removal should be promoted.

Perspectives on the use of by-products to treat soil and water pollution

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials

Volume 210, 1 July 2015, Pages 199–201

doi:10.1016/j.micromeso.2015.02.001

The use of modified by-products in pollution removal is conceptually very interesting, as shown in a paper by Peng et al. (2015) recently published in Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. However, we would like to stimulate a debate on the convenience of simultaneously continuing to research on the purging potential of raw by-products and waste materials.