HEAVY METAL REMEDIATION BY USING DIFFERENT BIOCHAR: AN ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY APPROACH TO CONTAMINATED SOIL RESTORATION (Running-KU RIC Funded)

1.  Title of the proposed research:

    

HEAVY METAL REMEDIATION BY USING DIFFERENT BIOCHAR: AN ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY APPROACH TO CONTAMINATED SOIL RESTORATION

 

2.   Keywords (maximum 5):  Heavy metal, Soil, Remediation, Biochar,

                                                  Environment-friendly

 

3.   Summary of the proposal content (200 to 300 words):

Soil serves as a foundation for biodiversity while playing a critical role in the normal functioning of the ecosystems. Presence of contaminants in the soil have recently become a crucial concern as they can accumulate in the crops produced in the contaminated fields, posing significant risks to human health and environmental sustainability. Among these contaminants, heavy metals and metalloids are the most dangerous pollutants that degrade the quality and usability of soil, altering its physical, chemical or biological properties, directly impacting soil fertility, productivity, and overall ecosystem stability; necessitating sustainable and effective remediation strategies. To solve this issue, one of the promising and eco-friendly solutions for remediation of heavy metals is biochar that has emerged recently. The proposed study will be an attempt to combine both laboratory experiments and field trials to assess the remediation potential of different biochar for soil remediation by assessing their adsorption capacity, impact on soil properties, and overall effectiveness in reducing heavy metal mobility and restoring soil health. During this study, a fixed-bed column will be used to analyze soil remediation efficiency, including different biochar and soil control. Biochar will be mixed with artificially contaminated soil and then applied to pots, along with control treatments. Comparative results will be drawn based on the uptake rate of heavy metal by biochar. The outcomes of this research will contribute to developing an efficient and environment friendly approach for mitigating heavy metal contamination, ensuring soil restoration, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

 4.   Duration (months): 24 months (Two Years)

 5.  Funded by Research Innovation Centre, Khulna University

 6. Project Management Team 

(a) Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Abdullah Harun Chowdhury

      Professor, Environmental Science Discipline,

      Khulna University

(b) Number of Research Fellow/Assistant: 01 (One)

7.      Objective(s) of the proposed project

The objectives of this study are:

a)      To assess the types and content of different heavy metals of the experimental soil.

b)      To determine the optimal application rate of dhaincha biochar and sunflower biochar for effective heavy metal remediation.

c)      To measure the variation in the uptake rate of heavy metal by crops followed by various biochar applications in the soil.

d)      To assess and compare between the effectiveness of dhaincha biochar and sunflower biochar for remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil in relation to economic viability.

e)      To aware the people about the remediation of heavy metal through biochar application.

• Research Project