Gondek Krzysztof, Micek Piotr, Baran Agnieszka, Bajda Tomasz, Kowal Jerzy, Lis Marcin, Wyrobisz-Papiewska Anna, Wojtysiak Dorota, Smoroń Krzysztof
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland.
Department of Nutrition, Animal Biotechnology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
Materials (Basel). 2023 Jun 20;16(12):4494. doi: 10.3390/ma16124494.
Diatomite has recently been the subject of intensive scientific research aimed at its extensive use in industry, breeding and agriculture. The only active diatomite mine is in Jawornik Ruski, in the Podkarpacie region of Poland. Chemical pollution in the environment, including that from heavy metals, poses a threat to living organisms. Reducing the mobility of heavy metals in the environment through the use of diatomite (DT) has recently gained much interest. More effective immobilisation of heavy metals in the environment with DT, mainly through the modification of its physical and chemical properties by various methods, should be applied. The aim of this research was to develop a simple and inexpensive material showing more favourable chemical and physical properties compared with unenriched DT in terms of metal immobilisation. Diatomite (DT), after calcination, was used in the study, considering three grain fractions, i.e., 0-1 mm (DT1); 0-0.5 mm (DT2) and 5-100 µm (DT3). Biochar (BC), dolomite (DL) and bentonite (BN) were used as additives. The proportion of DTs in the mixtures amounted to 75%, and of the additive, 25%. The use of unenriched DTs after calcination poses the risk of releasing heavy metals into the environment. Enrichment of the DTs with BC and DL resulted in a reduction or absence of Cd, Zn, Pb and Ni in aqueous extracts. It was found that for the specific surface area values obtained, the additive used for the DTs was of crucial importance. The reduction in DT toxicity has been proven under the influence of various additives. The mixtures of the DTs with DL and BN had the least toxicity. The obtained results have economic importance, as the production of the best quality sorbents from locally available raw materials reduces transport costs and thus the environmental impact. In addition, the production of highly efficient sorbents reduces the consumption of critical raw materials. It is estimated that the savings from producing sorbents with the parameters described in the article can be significant in comparison with popular competitive materials of other origins.
硅藻土最近成为了密集科学研究的对象，这些研究旨在其在工业、养殖和农业中的广泛应用。唯一活跃的硅藻土矿位于波兰喀尔巴阡地区的亚沃尼基鲁斯基。环境中的化学污染，包括重金属污染，对生物构成威胁。通过使用硅藻土（DT）来降低环境中重金属的迁移率最近引起了广泛关注。应采用更有效的方法，主要是通过各种方式改变其物理和化学性质，利用硅藻土在环境中固定重金属。本研究的目的是开发一种简单且廉价的材料，与未富集的硅藻土相比，在固定金属方面具有更有利的化学和物理性质。研究中使用了煅烧后的硅藻土（DT），考虑了三种粒度级分，即0 - 1毫米（DT1）；0 - 0.5毫米（DT2）和5 - 100微米（DT3）。生物炭（BC）、白云石（DL）和膨润土（BN）用作添加剂。混合物中DT的比例为75%，添加剂的比例为25%。煅烧后使用未富集的DT存在将重金属释放到环境中的风险。用BC和DL对DT进行富集导致水提取物中Cd、Zn、Pb和Ni的含量降低或不存在。研究发现，对于所获得的比表面积值，用于DT的添加剂至关重要。在各种添加剂的影响下，已证明DT的毒性降低。DT与DL和BN的混合物毒性最小。所获得的结果具有经济重要性，因为用当地可得的原材料生产出质量最佳的吸附剂可降低运输成本，并因此减少对环境的影响。此外，高效吸附剂的生产减少了关键原材料的消耗。据估计，与其他来源的流行竞争材料相比，生产具有本文所述参数的吸附剂所节省的成本可能相当可观。
