In situ stabilization of As and Sb with naturally occurring Mn, Al and Fe oxides in a calcareous soil: bioaccessibility, bioavailability and speciation studies

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of 6 different types of naturally occurring manganese, aluminum and iron oxides for stabilization of As and Sb in a calcareous soil spiked with 50mgkg(-1) of As or Sb and two dosages of treatments (2% and 5%). The resulting contaminated soils were subjected to a series of chemical extraction studies including sequential extraction, single step extraction with DTPA and Simplified Bioaccessibility Extraction Test (SBET) for estimation of bioaccessible fraction of As and Sb in soil and a greenhouse experiment using barley as the test crop. The results showed that Fe-associated and carbonate-bound fraction of As and Sb were predominant fractions. However, the amounts of labile fractions were higher in As contaminated soils, whereas the percentage of Sb associated with crystalline Fe-oxide and residual fractions were higher. The results revealed that application of natural metal oxides reduced DTPA and SBET extractable amounts and plant uptake of As and Sb. After application of amendments, the exchangeable fraction of As decreased dramatically by up to 82% while Sb exchangeable fraction decreased by up to 60% depending upon the additive. The results of chemical extractions and plant uptake confirmed that Sb had lower bioavailability, compared with As.

Keywords: Antimony; Arsenic; Bioavailability; Naturally occurring metal oxides; Stabilization.