Evaluation of the addition of immobilizing agents on selected physicochemical properties of soil contaminated with heavy metals

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining effects of increasing simultaneous contamination of soil with Pb and Zn at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg·kg^-1 and with Cd at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg·kg^-1 soil, after the addition of immobilizing agents (zeolite, diatomite, chalcedonite, dolomite, limestone, and activated carbon), on selected properties of soil. In the soil without the immobilizing agents, the highest doses of metals caused a decrease in pH value, total sorption capacity, total exchangeable base cations and saturation of the sorption complex with base cations as well as an increase in hydrolytic acidity and electrical conductivity of the soil. Among the agents applied, dolomite and activated carbon exerted a positive effect on the analyzed properties of soil, as they contributed to an increase in pH value, total exchangeable bases, and total sorption capacity, and to a decrease in hydrolytic acidity of the soil. The addition of zeolite caused soil electrical conductivity to decrease compared to the control pot, at all levels of soil contamination with Pb, Cd, and Zn.