Biomass reduction and arsenic transformation during composting of arsenic-rich hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L.

摘要

Background, aim, and scope Composting is being proposed as a pretreatment step before disposal of metal-rich biomass after phytoextraction process. This study determined the biomass reduction and arsenic transformation during com-posting As-rich biomass of hyperaccumulator Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata L.). Materials and methods High-As fern biomass containing approx 4,600 mg As kg~(-1) was composted for 120 days in a laboratory-scale composter under aerated condition. Solid As speciation was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy equipped with X-ray energy dispersive elemental spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), while liquid As speciation was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.