A comparative study of two biochars based on the temperature of pyrolysis for phytoremediation of chromium spiked soil by Canna indica L

Abstract

The clean-up of chromium spiked soil combining two remediation techniques ie., biochar enhanced phytoremediation has been attempted. Two biochars viz coconut shell biochar (BCcs) and rice husk biochar (BCrh) have been used. The comparisons are made on the basis of the temperature at which they were pyrolysed. BCcs was pyrolysed at 400°C and BCrh at 500°C. Canna indica L. was chosen as the phytoremediating plant. Potting experiments were done spiking the soil with varying concentrations of hexa-valent chromium and biochars. The Canna plants were grown in these pots and their chromium uptake was recorded on the 5th, 10th and 20th days. Based on the accumulation of the metal in the plant parts, the impact of the biochars on the mechanism of chromium uptake was derived..