Assessing the arsenic-saturated biochar recycling potential of vermitechnology: Insights on nutrient recovery, metal benignity, and microbial activity

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

Biochar mediated pollutant removal is gaining attention because of high efficiency of the process. However, effective recycling avenues of the pollutant-saturated biochars are scarce in the knowledge base; while such materials can be a new source of long-range contamination. Therefore, potential of vermitechnology for eco-friendly recycling of pollutant-loaded biochar was assessed by using arsenic-saturated native (NBC) and exfoliated (EBC) biochars as feedstocks for the first time. Interestingly, the bioavailable arsenic fractions (water soluble and exchangeable) considerably reduced by 22–44 % with concurrent increment (~8–15 %) of the recalcitrant (residual and organic bound) fractions in the biochar-based feedstocks. Consequently, ~2–3 folds removal of the total arsenic was achieved through vermicomposting. The earthworm population growth (2.5–3 folds) was also highly satisfactory in the biochar-based feedstocks. The results clearly imply that Eisenia fetida could compensate the arsenic-induced stress to microbial population and greatly augmented microbial biomass, respiration and enzyme activity by 3–12 folds. Moreover, biochar-induced alkalinity was significantly neutralized in the vermibeds, which remarkably balanced the TOC level and nutrient (N, P, and K) availability particularly in EBC + CD vermibeds. Overall, the nutrient recovery potential and arsenic removal efficiency of vermitechnology was clearly exhibited in NBC/EBC + CD (12.5:87.5) feedstocks. Hence, it is abundantly clear that vermitechnology can be a suitable option for eco-friendly recycling of pollutant-saturated sorbing agents, like biochars.

Publication Title

Chemosphere

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