Venera Jouraeva1, Danielle Stabinsky1, Todd Giardiello1, Kaylan Orben1, and Judith Wright2. (1) Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, (2) UFA Ventures Inc., Richland, WA
Apatite II amendment of soil contaminated with heavy metals was investigated using a sequential fractionation technique in this research. It has been shown that after only three months of treatment significant amounts of heavy metals were sequestred into the residual fraction of soil. The residual fraction of the treated soil contained signifianly higher amounts of Cd, Al, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cr than the residual fraction of the untreated soil. At the same time supply of essential minerals to biovailable fraction of soil was significantly increased and the acidity of the treated soil decreased. In a short period of time, Apatite II amendment transformed heavy metals from bioavailable (acid washable and exchangeable) and potentially bioavailable (reducible and oxidizable) forms to the residual forms that are permanently bound to the soil matrix and do not present a threat to environmental and human health. The treated soil supports vegetation growth (trees and grass).
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faculty.kutztown.edu/jouraeva
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