Successful remediation of soils with mixed contamination of chromium and lindane: Integration of biological and physico-chemical strategies.

Soils contaminated by organic and inorganic pollutants like Cr(VI) and lindane, is currently a main environmental challenge. Biological strategies, such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation and vermiremediation, and nanoremediation with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) are promising approaches for polluted soil health recovery. The combination of different remediation strategies might be key to address this problem.

Gentle remediation options for soil with mixed chromium (VI) and lindane pollution: biostimulation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation and vermiremediation.

Gentle Remediation Options (GROs), such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation and vermiremediation, are cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solutions for soils simultaneously polluted with organic and inorganic compounds. This study assessed the individual and combined effectiveness of GROs in recovering the health of a soil artificially polluted with hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and lindane. A greenhouse experiment was performed using organically-amended non-amended mixed polluted soils.

Effects of the application of an organic amendment and nanoscale zero-valent iron particles on soil Cr(VI) remediation.

Chromium is considered an environmental pollutant of much concern whose toxicity depends, to a great extent, on its valence state, with Cr(VI) being more soluble, bioavailable, and toxic, compared to Cr(III). Nanoremediation is a promising strategy for the remediation of metal pollutants by changing their valence state. However, among other aspects, its effectiveness for soil remediation is seriously hampered by the interaction of nanoparticles with soil organic matter.

Effectiveness and ecotoxicity of zero-valent iron nanoparticles during rhizoremediation of soil contaminated with Zn, Cu, Cd and diesel.

The remediation of soils simultaneously contaminated with organic and inorganic compounds is still a challenging task. The application of metallic nanoparticles, such as zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), for soil remediation is highly promising, but their effectiveness and potential ecotoxicity must be further investigated. In addition, the performance of nZVI when combined with other remediation strategies is a topic of great interest.

Brassica napus has a key role in the recovery of the health of soils contaminated with metals and diesel by rhizoremediation.

Contaminated soils are frequently characterized by the simultaneous presence of organic and inorganic contaminants, as well as a poor biological and nutritional status. Rhizoremediation, the combined use of phytoremediation and bioremediation, has been proposed as a Gentle Remediation Option to rehabilitate multi-contaminated soils. Recently, newer techniques, such as the application of metallic nanoparticles, are being deployed in an attempt to improve traditional remediation options.