Simultaneous attenuation of phytoaccumulation of Cd and As in soil treated with inorganic and organic amendments.

A novel FeSiCa rich material (IS), chicken manure (CM) and its biochar were investigated for their efficiency in simultaneous remediation of Cd and As uptake by the vegetable Brassica chinensis L. Wet chemistry analysis and X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to reveal the mechanisms responsible for Cd and As fixation in the amended soils. The IS treatment performed best in reducing Cd uptake, while the combination of IS and CM was the optimal one for As fixation. The precipitation/co-precipitation (in cadmium silicate/phosphate/phosphate hydroxide, cadmium iron and manganese oxides under alkaline conditions, and calcium/magnesium/ferric arsenates) and specific chemisorption (by amorphous iron/manganese oxides) were proved to be more efficient in simultaneously lowering As and Cd phytoavailability than was organic complexation. These findings demonstrate that FeSiCa and FeSiCaC amendments are highly efficient and promising in-situ remediation systems for safe crop production on soils contaminated with Cd and As.