Iron-titanium oxide-engineered biochar mitigates antimony and nickel bioavailability in paddy soil: implications for soil geochemistry, microbial dynamics, and rice grain safety.
Murtaza G, Alhasan AS, Hassan NE, Ahmad A, Alotaibi MS
Phytoremediation
Biochar made with iron and titanium oxides offers a practical soil amendment tool for growers working land near mining or industrial sites, locking down toxic metals before they reach the grain.
Researchers created a supercharged version of biochar—a charcoal-like material made from organic waste—by coating it with iron and titanium minerals. When added to rice paddies contaminated with the toxic metals antimony and nickel, it dramatically reduced how much of those metals moved into the soil water and eventually into the rice grain itself. The treated soil also showed healthier microbial communities and better carbon retention, suggesting the material improves overall soil quality while protecting food safety.
Key Findings
Fe-Ti-BC application reduced plant-available antimony and nickel concentrations in soil pore water compared to untreated control plots.
Rice grains grown in Fe-Ti-BC-amended soil contained significantly lower levels of antimony and nickel, reducing food safety risks.
Soil microbial community composition and carbon dynamics improved with Fe-Ti-BC treatment, indicating broader soil health benefits beyond metal immobilization.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A specially engineered biochar material—enhanced with iron and titanium oxides—significantly reduced the uptake of toxic metals antimony and nickel into rice grains grown in contaminated paddy soil, while also improving soil carbon and microbial health.
Abstract Preview
Co-contamination of paddy soils with antimony (Sb) and nickel (Ni) poses significant risks to soil quality, crop productivity, and food safety. This study evaluated the effectiveness of iron-titani...
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