Investigating the use of Aspergillus niger fermentation broth as a washing treatment for arsenic and antimony co-contaminated soil.

High concentrations of arsenic and antimony contamination in soil are a potential risk to the ecological environment and human health. Soil washing can effectively and permanently reduce the soil contamination. This study used Aspergillus niger fermentation broth as a washing agent to remove As and Sb from contaminated soil. Characterization of organic acids in the fermentation broth by high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and chemically simulated leaching experiments revealed that oxalic acid played a significant role in removing As and Sb from the soil. The effect of washing conditions on the metal removal rate of Aspergillus niger fermentation broth was investigated by batch experiments, and the optimal conditions were determined: no dilution, pH 1, L/S ratio 15:1, and leaching at 25 °C for 3 h. The soils were washed three times under optimal conditions, with 73.78%, 80.84%, and 85.83% removal of arsenic and 65.11%, 76.39%, and 82.06% removal of antimony, respectively. The results of metal speciation distribution in the soil showed that the fermentation broth could effectively remove As and Sb on amorphous Fe/Al hydrous oxides in soil. The analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of soils before and after washing showed that the washing of Aspergillus niger fermentation broth had a minor effect on the structural changes of soils. After washing, soil organic matter and soil enzyme activity were increased. Thus, Aspergillus niger fermentation broth shows excellent potential as a washing agent for removing As and Sb from soils.