Manganese-modified biochar for sediment remediation: Effect, microbial community response, and mechanism

Heavy metal sediment pollution has become an increasingly serious problem associated with industrial development, so extensive studies have been conducted concerning their removal. Biochar has recently shown good potential for in-situ remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sediments. The heavy metal adsorption capacity of inexpensive biochar can be improved by loading it with metal oxides. In this study, manganese-modified biochar (MBC) was prepared by KMnO₄-modified waste-activated sludge biochar and applied to immobilize Pb and Cd in sediments. Its effects on the sediment microbial community were also investigated. The Results showed that manganese modification of the biochar made it more conducive to the adsorption of heavy metals, owing to its higher specific surface area and graphitization structure, more active sites and oxygen-containing groups, and the presence of Mn₂O₃ crystal structure on the surface. The maximum adsorption capacities of this material for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in solution were 176.9 mg/g and 44.0 mg/g, respectively. The application of MBC to the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sediments transformed Pb and Cd in the sediments from exchangeable to residual state. The F4 content of Pb in the sediments increased from 40.52%-42.36% to 49.11%-51.14% after application of 1% MBC, and to 63.94%-64.49% after application of 5% MBC. Correspondingly, the F1 content of Pb in the sediments decreased from 29.09%-30.68% to 17.43%-17.69% after the application of 5% MBC. Furthermore, MBC efficiently enriched the microbial biodiversity and affected the microbial population structure within 60 days. The relative abundance of uncultured f Symbiobacteraceae and Fonticella communities significantly increased after incubation. The results may provide empirical support for the combination of metal oxides and biochar for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sediments.