Efficiency of Iron Nanoparticles and Cellulosic Wastes for Reclamation of Lead Contaminated Soil and Oak Seedling Establishments

Due to the contamination of northern forests with heavy metals by activities such as mining, the aim of this study was to use zero-valent iron-nano-particles and cellulosic-waste for reclamation of soil contaminated with lead and to establish oak seedlings.

One-year-old oak seedlings were planted in plastic-pots filled with nursery soil in March-2014. Lead was added to the pots at concentrations of 0, 100, 200, 300 (mgkg-1) using lead-nitrate solution. Cellulosic-waste with levels of 0, 10% (W1), 20 %( W2) and 30 %( W2) was added to the pots at the same time of planting. Zero-valent iron-nanoparticles with levels of 0, 1(N1), 2(N2) and 3(N3) mgkg-1 was injected into the soil. The diameter, height, dry weight, bioavailable concentration of lead and amendments efficiency was measured at the end of the growing season.

With increasing levels of amendments (from 10 to 30% for cellulosic-waste and from 1 to 3 mg kg-1 for iron-nanoparticles), an increasing trend in seedlings biomass was observed for all levels of contamination. The highest efficiency for all contamination levels was observed in highest level of each amendment. The efficiency of N3 treatment for Pb 100, Pb 200 and Pb 300 was 79.5, 84.4 and 67.8%, respectively and the efficiency of W3 treatment was 55.6, 74.9 and 63.1%, respectively.

The use of zero-valent nano-particles had a better efficiency than cellulosic-waste to reduce the bioavailability of lead; therefore, planting native species and using such amendments in planting holes can help the reforestation of contaminated areas.