##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

Lead (Pb) contamination in soils is a major global concern for both humans and the environment. Saponin, a plant-based based and environment-friendly surfactant was used for remediation of Pb-spiked garden soil to test its effectiveness and suitability for Pb removal. A Box-Behnken design was designed to optimise the washing conditions using the following variables: soil type (100% topsoil; 50% topsoil/50% sand; 20% topsoil/ 80% sand); pH of the washing solution (2; 3.5; 5); and saponin concentration (1%; 3%; 5%). The results showed that optimum removal efficiency of 58.69% was achieved with saponin, while distilled water removed 3.92% Pb in a single wash. Saponin was found to be statistically more effective than distilled water (P< 0.05); an optimum pH of 3.5 significantly increased Pb removal efficiency (P<0.05). The washing process was found to cause slight surface erosion and weathering of the soil grains.

References

  1. Ugwu EC, Remediation of contaminated soil in copper mining areas using plant-based surfactants in EGIS. Edinburg: Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh; 2019.
     Google Scholar
  2. Liu H, Probst A, Liao B. Metal contamination of soils and crops affected by the Chenzhuo lead/zinc mine spill (Hunan, China). Science of the Total Environment. 2005; 339(1-3): 153-166.
     Google Scholar
  3. Carrizales L, Razo I, Téllez-Hernández JI, et al.. Exposure to arsnic and lead of children living near a copper smelter in San Luis Potosis, Mexico: Importantce of soil contamination for exposure in children. Environmental Research 2006; 101(1): 1-10.
     Google Scholar
  4. Han FX, Banin A, Su Y, Monts DL, Plodinec JM, Kingery WL, et al. Industrial age anthropagenic inputs of heavy metals into the pedosphere. The Science of Nature. 2002; 89 (11): 497-504.
     Google Scholar
  5. Qi X, Xu X, Zhong C, Jiang T, Wei W, Song X. Removal of Cadmium and Lead from Contaminated Soils Using Sophorolipids from Fermentation Culture of Starmerella bombicola CGMCC 1576 Fermentation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15(11): p. 2334.
     Google Scholar
  6. Jarup L. Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin. 2003; 68(1): 167-182.
     Google Scholar
  7. Khademolhosseini MR, Mobasherpour I, Ghahremani D. Lead absorption by nano-hydroxyapatite granules in a fixed-bed column. Chemistry & Chemical Technology. 2018; 12(3): 372-378.
     Google Scholar
  8. Shotyk W, Le Roux G. Biogeochemistry and Cycling of Lead. In: Metal Ions in Biological Systems. Sigel H, Sigel R. Ed. CRC Press, 2005, pp. 240-268.
     Google Scholar
  9. Nabulo G, Oryem-Origa H, Dimond M. Assessment of lead, cadmium and zinc contamination of roadside soils, surface films and vegetables in Kamala City, Uganda. Environmental Resaerch. 2006; 101(1): 42-52.
     Google Scholar
  10. Benschoten J, Masumoto M, Young W. Evaluation and analysis of soil washing for seven lead contaminated soils. Journal of Environmental Engingeering. 1997; 123(3): 217-224.
     Google Scholar
  11. Semer R, Reddy K. Evaluation of soil washing process to remove mixed contaminants from a sandy loam. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 1996; 45(1): 45-57.
     Google Scholar
  12. Moutsatsou A, Gregou M, Matsas D, Protonotarios V. Washing as a remediation technology applicable in soils heavily polluted by mining-metallurgical activities. Chemosphere. 2006; 68(10): 1632-1640.
     Google Scholar
  13. Mulligan C, Yong R, Gibbs B, Surfactant-enhanced remediation of contaminated soil: A review. Engineering Geology. 2001; 60(1): 371-380.
     Google Scholar
  14. Juwarkar AA, Nair A, Dubey KV, Singh SK, Devotta S. Biosurfactant technology for the remediation of cadmium and lead contaminated soils. Chemisphere. 2007; 68(1): 1996-2002.
     Google Scholar
  15. Mulligan CN, Yong RN, Gibbs BF, James S, Bennett HPJ. Metal removal from contaminated soil and sediments by the biosurfactant surfactin. Journal of Environmental Science & Technology. 1999; 33(21): 3812-3820.
     Google Scholar
  16. Maity JP, Huang YM, Hsu CM, Wu CI, Chen CC, Li CY, et al. Removal of Cu, Pb and Zn by foam fraction and a soil washing process from contaminated industrial soils using soapberry-derived saponin: a comparative effectiveness assessment. . Chemosphere. 2013; 92(1): 1286-1293.
     Google Scholar
  17. Wang S. Biosurfactant remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil. Concorida University: Montreal; 2003.
     Google Scholar
  18. Maity JP, Huang YM, Fan CW, Chen CC, Li CY, Hsu CM, et al. Evaluation of remediation process with soapberry derived saponin for removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils in Hai-Pu, Taiwan. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2013; 25(6): 1180-1185.
     Google Scholar
  19. Roy D, Kommalapati RR, Mandava SS, Valsaraj KT, Constant WD. Soil Washing Potential of a Natural Surfactant Environmental Science and Technology. 1997; 31(1): 670-675.
     Google Scholar
  20. Gusiatin Z, Klimiuk E. Metal (Cu, Cd and Zn) removal and stabilization during multiple soil washing by saponin. Chemosphere. 2012; 86(1): 383-391.
     Google Scholar
  21. Hong K, Tokunaga S, Kajiuchi T. Evaluation of remidation process with plant derived bio-surfactant for recovery of heavy metals from contaminated soils. Chemosphere. 2002; 49(1): 379-387.
     Google Scholar
  22. Mukhopadhyay S, Hashim MA, Sahu JN, Yusoff I, Gupta BS. Comparison of a plant based natural surfactant with SDS for washing of As(V) from Fe rich soil. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2013; 25(11): 2247-2256.
     Google Scholar
  23. Race M, Marrotta A, Fabbricino M. Copper and zinc removal from contaminated soil through soil washing process using ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid as a chelating agent, A modelling investigation. Journal of Environmental Chemcial Engineering. 2016; 4(3): 2879-2891.
     Google Scholar
  24. Thein S, Graveel J. Laboratory Manual for Soil Science: Agricultural and Environmental Principles. New York: McGraw Hill- Higher Education; 2002.
     Google Scholar
  25. Reddy K, Chinthamreddy S. Comparison of extractants for removing heavy metals from contaminated clay soils. Soil and Sediment Contamination. 2000; 9(1): 449-462.
     Google Scholar
  26. Gusaitin Z, Klimiuk E. Metal (Cu Cd and Zn) removal and stabilization during multiple soil washing by saponin. Chemosphere. 2012; 86(1): 383-391.
     Google Scholar
  27. Zhang J, Valsaraj KT, Constant WD, Roy D. Surfactant screening for soil washing: comparison of foamability and biodegradability of a plant based surfactant with a comerical surfactant. Journal of Environmental Science & Health. 1998; Part A(33): 1249-1273.
     Google Scholar
  28. Mukhopadhyay S, Hashim MA, Allen M, Gupta BS. Arsenic removal from soil with high iron content using a natural surfactant and phosphate. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 2015; 12(2): p. 617-632.
     Google Scholar
  29. Wuana R, Okieimen F, Imborvungu J. Removal of heavy metals from a contaminated soil using organic chelating acids. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology. 2010; 7(3): 485-496.
     Google Scholar
  30. Ferreira SLC, Bruns RE, Ferreira HS, Matos GD, David JM, Brandao GC, et al. The Box-Behnken Design: An alternative for the optimization of analytical methods. Analytical Chemical Acta. 2007; 597(-): 179-186.
     Google Scholar
  31. Gusaitin Z, Klimiuk E. Metal removal (Cu, Cd and Zn) and stablization during multiple soil washing by saponin. Chemosphere. 2012; 86(4): 383-391.
     Google Scholar
  32. Wuana R, Okieimen F, Imborvungu J. Removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil using organic chelating acids. Jornal of Environmental Science and Technology. 2010; 7(3): 485-496.
     Google Scholar
  33. Torres L, Lopez R, Beltran M. Removal of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn from a highly contamined industrial soil using surfactant enhanced soil washing. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth. 2012; 37(1): 30-36.
     Google Scholar
  34. Venkatesh NM, Vedaraman N. Remediation of soil contaminated with copper using rhamnolipids produced from Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 2297 using waste frying rice bran oil. Annals of Microbiology. 2012; 62(1): 85-91.
     Google Scholar
  35. Zou Z, Qui R, Zhang W, Dong H, Zhao Z, Zhao T, et al. The study of operating variables in soil washing with EDTA. Environmental Pollution. 2009; 157(1): 229-236.
     Google Scholar
  36. Johnston A. Soil organic matter, effects on soils and crops. Soil Use and Management. 1986; 2(3): 97-105.
     Google Scholar
  37. Bot A, Benites J. The Importance of soil organic matter: key to drought resistant soil and sunstained food production. Rome: Food and Agriculture organisation; 2005.
     Google Scholar
  38. Islam A, Edwards D, Asher C. pH optima for plant growth. Plant and Soil. 1980; 54(3): 339-357.
     Google Scholar
  39. Rylott E, Bruce N. Plants disarm soil: engineering plants for the phytoremediation of explosives. Trends in Biotechnology. 2009; 27(2): 73-81.
     Google Scholar