Conducted by NwSSU
Completed on 2018
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Biochar produced from waste biomass is increasingly being recognized as a green, cost-effective
amendment for environmental remediation. The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of biochar in immobilizing and reducing concentration of heavy metal particular Lead (Ph) in contaminated soil. Biochar prepared from peanut hull was incubated with contaminated soils at rates of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10g kg-1 soil by weight for 55 days. Sub-sampling also was done at 25, 40, 50 and 55 days after incubation to determine the Pb reduction effect of biochar with time. Lead concentration was thoroughly quantified by following the aqua-regia leaching method at Soil Pedological Laboratory, Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay City, Leyte. Results revealed that biochar was significantly increases the phosphorus content of the soil which enhances its effectiveness in immobilizing awl reducing Pb concentration. Moreover, the effectiveness was enhanced with increasing incubation time from day 0 to day 55 and biochar rates (0 g to 10 g kg-1 soil). However, no significant differences in the pH and organic matter content of the soil were observed after addition of peanut hull biochar. After 55 days of incubation, soils treated with the highest rate of 10g kg-1 soil biochar showed the highest reduction in Pb concentrations in aqua - regia leaching method. This is due to the high phosphorus originally contained in biochar reacted with soil Pb to form insoluble hydroxypyromorphite Pb5(PO4)3(OH) which was presumably responsible for soil Pb immobilization. The results highlighted the potential of peanut hull biochar as one of the unique amendment for immobilization of heavy metal particularly lead in contaminated soil.