Unraveling the Immobilization Mechanisms of Biochar and Humic Acid on Heavy Metals: DOM Insights from EEMs-PARAFAC and 2D-COS Analysis
Source abstract
Abstract
The structural complexity and variability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) significantly affect its binding capacity with heavy metals (HMs). This study evaluated the remediation efficacy of biochar (BC) and humic acid (HA) on Mn- and Cu-contaminated soils using four maize pot treatments: 3% BC (YB3), 6% BC (YB6), 3% BC + 1% HA (YB3H), and 6% BC + 1% HA (YB6H). The results showed that compared to the control (Y), Results showed Mn and Cu concentrations in rhizosphere soil decreased by 11.08–17.76%, while DOM content increased by 44.2–103.83%. BC enhanced DOM aromaticity and humification, further intensified by HA, leading to a more complex and stable DOM structure. PARAFAC identified four DOM components in BC (BC-DOM): C1 (fulvic-like), C2/C3 (humic-like), and C4 (protein-like), and in BC + HA (BC + H-DOM), an enhanced structural complexity with additional aromatic C–H groups was observed. 2D-COS analysis revealed that in BC-DOM, polysaccharides primarily interacted with Mn and Cu, followed by carboxylic acids and phenolic hydroxyl groups, but in BC + H-DOM, aromatic C–H groups preferentially bound Cu before polysaccharides, showing weaker affinity for Mn. These results elucidate the DOM-mediated immobilization mechanisms of BC and HA for HMs, offering insights for soil remediation and carbon sequestration strategies.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Heavy metals in environment · Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis · Marine and coastal ecosystems
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
China School of Resource and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-Utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Xiangtan 411201, China
Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Modern Eco-Agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Funding
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China · Key Research and Development Program of Hunan Province, China · Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department, China · Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Agro-environments in Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University · Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Clean Utilization of Coal and Mine Environmental Protection of Hunan Province, Hunan University of Science and Technology
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