Cadmium stabilization via sequential application of phytoremediation and pyrolysis

Abstract

The objective of this study is the treatment of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil and stabilization of cadmium (Cd) in a solid product. For this aim, phytoremediation and pyrolysis were sequentially applied. Phytoremediation was first applied to cadmium contaminated soil via different plants (sunflower, corn and rape). After harvesting, contaminated plants were pyrolyzed. Phytoremediation was realized with different chelate (EDTA) concentrations (0-5-10 mmol/kg). The phytoremediation results indicated that high phytoremediation efficiencies (89.6-93.5%) were observed. Then, contaminated plants were pyrolyzed at 500 degrees C with the heating rate of 35 degrees C/min in a fixed bed 240 m(3) stainless steel reactor (380 S). Beside the main property analyses, Cd content and eluate analysis were performed on the pyrolysis solid and liquid products. According to pyrolysis results, Cd content of the contaminated biomass species is fixed into the ash/char fraction.