Eco-Friendly Mitigation of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution in Sheikhupura Industrial Region Sana Ashraf

Abstract

Developing nations like Pakistan, which is lagging in enforcing pollution regulations and standards, are particularly vulnerable to soil contamination from rising industrial tendencies and waste production, both of which are known to cause cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate the elevated heavy metal concentration in the soil of the Sheikhupura district's industrial zone and to determine efficacy of co-pyrolyzed biochar for the immobilization of detected heavy metals. Additionally, this research also aimed to investigate the effects of biochar on the growth response of spinach in polluted soil. The properties of produced biochar were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and proximate analysis. Pre analysis of collected soil samples indicated that concentrations of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd and Zn were found higher than the permissible limits issued by WHO. The results of the pot trail experiment indicated that significant immobilization of all the detected heavy metals was observed in treatment T3 having 4% biochar level and 20% leaf compost. The removal efficiency of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd and Zn was found to be 58.3%, 56.5%, 60.7%, 58.3% and 58.3%, respectively in SS-1. The removal efficiency of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd and Zn was found to be 57.7%, 54.2%, 62.6%, 57.7% and 57.2%, respectively in SS-2. The removal efficiency of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd and Zn was found to be 55.3%, 55.3%, 55.3%, 55.3% and 55.3%, respectively in SS-3. The removal efficiency of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd and Zn was found to be 63.3%, 57.4%, 68.7%, 63.3% and 66.3%, respectively in SS-4. The removal efficiency of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd and Zn was found to be 53.9%, 54.4%, 53.9%, 53.9% and 51.2%, respectively in SS-5. Maximum growth attributes of spinach were also observed in treatment T3 in all the soil samples. Therefore, it can be inferred from the conducted research that co-pyrolyzed biochar is an efficient and cost-effective remediation strategy for the immobilization of heavy metals from the polluted soil thereby enhancing the morphological features of different plant species.