Development of Biochar-Based Soil Remediation Strategies (Kokosan II)
The remediation and restoration of polluted sites is a crucial challenge for reducing risk to humans and environmental health, as well as for the safety of groundwater resources. Conventional remediation strategies can have substantial environmental footprints and are often too cost intensive to remediate diffuse polluted sites.
To address this problem, in the project KOKOSAN II an innovative biochar based in-situ soil remediation method with a particularly favorable overall environmental footprint is developed.
Organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ionizable organic contaminants) and heavy metals (Cd, Zn, and Hg) in soil can be immobilized via biochar or activated biochar application. The pollutant immobilization differs in dependence on pollutant type, environmental conditions and biochar properties. In addition, the biochar type and application rate is dependent on the contaminant mixture and soil specific properties. To date these dependencies, especially the effect of soil type on biochar performance remain poorly understood. Therefore, in KOKOSAN II we will systematically investigate the effect of pH, organic matter, ionic strength and soil composition on the immobilization on pollutants relevant to contaminated sites in Austria.
The project is funded by the Autrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism. Management by Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH (Projekt Nr. B820017).
