Using Fe/H₂O₂-modified biochar to realize field-scale Sb/As stabilization and soil structure improvement in an Sb...

Antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) released from the Sb smelting activities pose a major environmental risk and ecological degradation in Sb smelting sites. Here the effects of Fe/H₂O₂ modified biochar (Fe@H₂O₂-BC) on the synchronous stabilization of Sb/As and the improvement of soil structure in a typical Sb smelting site in Southern China based on a 1-year field experiment were studied. Application of ≥1 % (w/w) Fe@H₂O₂-BC could stably decrease the leaching concentrations of Sb and As of the polluted soils to Environmental quality standards for surface water Chinese Level III (GB3838-2002). Compared to the untreated soils, the stabilization efficiency of soil Sb and As treated by Fe@H₂O₂-BC reached 90.7 % ~ 95.7 % and 89.6 % ~ 90.8 %, respectively. The residue fractions of Sb/As in the soils increased obviously, and the bio-availability of Sb/As decreased by 65.0-95.6 % and 91.1-96.0 %, respectively. Moreover, Fe@H₂O₂-BC addition elevated soil organic carbon content, increased soil porosity, and improved water retention capacity, indicating the positive effects on soil structure and functions. Advanced mineral identification and characterization systems showed that Sb/As usually occurred in Fe-bearing minerals and stabilized by surface complexation and co-precipitation. The findings demonstrated that 1 % (w/w) Fe@H₂O₂-BC was appropriate to Sb/As stabilization and soil function recovery following field conditions, which provided potential application for ecological restoration in Sb smelting sites.