ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the use of two types of industrial waste to reduce availability of zinc and cadmium in contaminated soil. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro during 225 days, using a substrate contaminated with zinc and cadmium, collected from the yard of the Itaguaí Port Mining Industry, and near the site of disposal of hazardous waste from two industries, Cia Mercantil and Industrial Inga in Itaguaí. The substrate was treated with two inerting agents: an industrial residue with characteristic alkaline (Slag of Melt Shop) in two doses, 4% and 6%, and a high content of iron oxide as adsorbent (lamination of scale) in a single dose of 1%. After planting the seedlings of Eucalyptus urophylla, substrate was collected from each experimental unit to determine the bioavailable and unavailable fractions (extracted with MgCl ). The substrate, untreated, had a high content of cadmium and zinc in the bioavailable fraction. The treatments caused a reduction in the availability of these elements in the soil, as evidenced in the differential absorption by plants. Due to the increased availability of cadmium and zinc in the soil without the addition of inerting agents, plants did not survive the high levels of these elements, and died 30 days after implantation of the experiment. The dry matter yield was positively influenced by the application of inerting agents, showing better response at higher slag. The highest dose also gave the lowest concentrations of elements in plants without causing nutrient deficiency of zinc and cadmium, maintaining levels that are not toxic to the species of eucalyptus. Although showing lower concentrations of cadmium at 6% Melt Shop Slag, this dose resulted in greater extraction of this element by plants.
Keywords:
phytoremediation; inerting agents; trees and heavy metals