Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques
Abstract Pollutants in soils are detrimental to ecosystems and agricultural production and may also be a pressing threat to human health. In this context, biochar could be used as part of nature-based solutions to remediate polluted areas. In this work, a series of innovative biochar-based strategie...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93879-5 |
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| author | Valentina Mazzurco-Miritana Laura Passatore Massimo Zacchini Fabrizio Pietrini Eleonora Peruzzi Serena Carloni Ludovica Rolando Gian Luigi Garbini Anna Barra Caracciolo Vanesa Silvani Maria Cristina Moscatelli Rosita Marabottini Luisa Massaccesi Sara Marinari Isabel Nogués |
| author_facet | Valentina Mazzurco-Miritana Laura Passatore Massimo Zacchini Fabrizio Pietrini Eleonora Peruzzi Serena Carloni Ludovica Rolando Gian Luigi Garbini Anna Barra Caracciolo Vanesa Silvani Maria Cristina Moscatelli Rosita Marabottini Luisa Massaccesi Sara Marinari Isabel Nogués |
| author_sort | Valentina Mazzurco-Miritana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Pollutants in soils are detrimental to ecosystems and agricultural production and may also be a pressing threat to human health. In this context, biochar could be used as part of nature-based solutions to remediate polluted areas. In this work, a series of innovative biochar-based strategies were tested in a soil contaminated by hydrocarbons C > 12 and copper (Cu) to investigate their effectiveness in soil decontamination and revegetation potential. Specifically, biochar was applied to soil alone (SB) or combined with bioaugmentation (SBB) and/or phytoremediation (SBP and SBBP) techniques. Overall results showed that after nine months (T9) biochar added to soil increased hydrocarbon degradation to 66.7% with respect to control soil (46%, natural attenuation). Moreover, the biochar in combination with a microbial consortium and/or plants significantly increased hydrocarbon removal by up to 90%. Concurrently, the fraction of Cu associated with organic matter, characterized by low bioavailability, increased significantly (1.4–2-fold) when biochar was applied. Soil microbial abundance increased over time in all conditions, reaching highest values in SBB and SBBP. This was associated with the higher levels of available phosphorus in the soil. The consortium’s presence enhanced plant growth compared to SB. On the contrary, plants grown on contaminated soil alone were not able to survive until the end of the experiment. Overall, the results of this work make a significant contribution to the understanding of the interaction of biochar with contaminants, plants and microorganisms, providing a useful tool for future brownfield revegetation/remediation programs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dada4e76a9fb45369a58374cb4e64e52 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-dada4e76a9fb45369a58374cb4e64e522025-08-20T02:25:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-93879-5Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniquesValentina Mazzurco-Miritana0Laura Passatore1Massimo Zacchini2Fabrizio Pietrini3Eleonora Peruzzi4Serena Carloni5Ludovica Rolando6Gian Luigi Garbini7Anna Barra Caracciolo8Vanesa Silvani9Maria Cristina Moscatelli10Rosita Marabottini11Luisa Massaccesi12Sara Marinari13Isabel Nogués14Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR)Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR)Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR)Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR)Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNRResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR)Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR)Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR)Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR)Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada, CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, C1428EGA, Universidad de Buenos AiresDepartment for Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forest systems, University of TusciaDepartment for Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forest systems, University of TusciaInstitute for Agriculture and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council (ISAFOM-CNR)Department for Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forest systems, University of TusciaResearch Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR)Abstract Pollutants in soils are detrimental to ecosystems and agricultural production and may also be a pressing threat to human health. In this context, biochar could be used as part of nature-based solutions to remediate polluted areas. In this work, a series of innovative biochar-based strategies were tested in a soil contaminated by hydrocarbons C > 12 and copper (Cu) to investigate their effectiveness in soil decontamination and revegetation potential. Specifically, biochar was applied to soil alone (SB) or combined with bioaugmentation (SBB) and/or phytoremediation (SBP and SBBP) techniques. Overall results showed that after nine months (T9) biochar added to soil increased hydrocarbon degradation to 66.7% with respect to control soil (46%, natural attenuation). Moreover, the biochar in combination with a microbial consortium and/or plants significantly increased hydrocarbon removal by up to 90%. Concurrently, the fraction of Cu associated with organic matter, characterized by low bioavailability, increased significantly (1.4–2-fold) when biochar was applied. Soil microbial abundance increased over time in all conditions, reaching highest values in SBB and SBBP. This was associated with the higher levels of available phosphorus in the soil. The consortium’s presence enhanced plant growth compared to SB. On the contrary, plants grown on contaminated soil alone were not able to survive until the end of the experiment. Overall, the results of this work make a significant contribution to the understanding of the interaction of biochar with contaminants, plants and microorganisms, providing a useful tool for future brownfield revegetation/remediation programs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93879-5Melilotus officinalisSoil bioremediationHydrocarbonsCopperBioavailabilityBioactivators |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Mazzurco-Miritana Laura Passatore Massimo Zacchini Fabrizio Pietrini Eleonora Peruzzi Serena Carloni Ludovica Rolando Gian Luigi Garbini Anna Barra Caracciolo Vanesa Silvani Maria Cristina Moscatelli Rosita Marabottini Luisa Massaccesi Sara Marinari Isabel Nogués Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques Scientific Reports Melilotus officinalis Soil bioremediation Hydrocarbons Copper Bioavailability Bioactivators |
| title | Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques |
| title_full | Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques |
| title_fullStr | Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques |
| title_short | Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques |
| title_sort | promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques |
| topic | Melilotus officinalis Soil bioremediation Hydrocarbons Copper Bioavailability Bioactivators |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93879-5 |
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