Immobilization of lead in shooting range soil using biochar from spent mushroomsubstrateImmobilization of lead in shooting range soil using biochar from spent mushroomsubstrate

Abstract

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) was pyrolyzed at 450 degrees C for 2 hours and characterized using elemental analyzer and Boehm titration. Shooting range soil was incubated with 2.5% w/w and 5.0% w/w of SMSB for four weeks and the soil were characterized on the elemental composition, pH, electric conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The mobility of Pb in the incubated soil were studied using a modified selective sequential extraction (SSE) scheme. Total Pb in shooting range soil is 29385.5 mg/kg. The texture of shooting range soil is loamy sand with an average soil pH of 4.69, EC value 0.17 mS/mand CEC value 6.0 mEq/100g. After treatment with SMSB, the soil pH and CEC were increased and the concentration of exchangeable Pb decreased. Conclusively, this study found that there is potential in using SMSB for remediating Pb contamination in the shooting range soil.