Predicting chemical speciation of metals in soil using Visual Minteq

Highlights

● Soil processes affect metal chemical speciation and their biogeochemical activity.

● The current study predicted chemical speciation of eight metals in two soil layers.

● Divalent forms of metals predominated in both soil layers (79.9%).

● Chromium showed a chemical speciation that varied from that of the other metals (95.8% as CrOH⁺).

● Mean percentage ages of all metal ions were similar for all 15 field locations investigated.

Abstract

From soil contamination and risk assessment perspectives, it is imperative to understand the ecological processes occurring in soils. Certain soil processes greatly affect chemical speciation of potentially toxic metals (PTMs), and thus also influence their biogeochemical activity. The current study analyzed chemical speciation of eight PTMs (Cd, Cr, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Pb) in upper and lower soil layers for 15 agronomic fields of Vehari-Pakistan using Visual Minteq software. The divalent forms of most PTMs (PTM²⁺) generally predominated in both soil layers (79.9% overall occurrence). However, chromium revealed a different pattern of chemical speciation (95.8% as CrOH⁺) compared to other PTMs. The mean percentage of all the PTMs²⁺ was slightly higher for the lower soil layer (81.3%) than in the upper layer (78.4%), the trend being same for all the PTMs, except Cr. This higher PTMs²⁺ percentage in lower soil layers than upper layers was due to lower content of organic matter and other anions such as Cl⁻ and HCO₃⁻. The mean percentage ages of all the PTMs²⁺ was similar among all the 15 agronomic fields, which was confirmed by strong Pearson correlation values (R² > 0.95). The PCA graph grouped all the agronomic fields and PTM²⁺ closely, except Cr²⁺ and Cu²⁺. This grouping confirmed the similar chemical speciation of PTMs, except Cu and Cr in studied fields.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

heavy metals / free ionic forms / agricultural soils / multivariate analysis / PCA

References

[1] Abbasi, S., Lamb, D.T., Choppala, G., Burton, E.D., Megharaj, M., 2022. Antimony speciation, phytochelatin stimulation and toxicity in plants. Environmental Pollution305, 119305.

[2] Bing, H., Qiu, S., Tian, X., Li, J., Zhu, H., Wu, Y., Zhang, G., 2021. Trace metal contamination in soils from mountain regions across China: spatial distribution, sources, and potential drivers. Soil Ecology Letters3, 189–206.

[3] Gavrilescu, M., 2022. Enhancing phytoremediation of soils polluted with heavy metals. Current Opinion in Biotechnology74, 21–31.

[4] Huang, J., Yuan, F., Zeng, G., Li, X., Gu, Y., Shi, L., Liu, W., Shi, Y., 2017. Influence of pH on heavy metal speciation and removal from wastewater using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration. Chemosphere173, 199–206.

[5] Jiang, O., Li, L., Duan, G., Gustave, W., Zhai, W., Zou, L., An, X., Tang, X., Xu, J., 2023. Root exudates increased arsenic mobility and altered microbial community in paddy soils. Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)127, 410–420.

[6] Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Niazi, N.K., Murtaza, B., Bibi, I., Dumat, C., 2017. A comparison of technologies for remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. Journal of Geochemical Exploration182, 247–268.

[7] Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Natasha, ALOthman, Z., Al-Kahtani, A., Murtaza, B., 2022. Plant physiological responses after fresh and sewage water irrigation: Plant health perspectives. Gesunde Pflanzen, doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00756-6

[8] Li, Q., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Li, L., Tang, M., Hu, W., Chen, L., Ai, S., 2022. Speciation of heavy metals in soils and their immobilization at micro-scale interfaces among diverse soil components. Science of the Total Environment825, 153862.

[9] Liu, F., Huang, X., Zhao, H., Hu, X., Wang, L., Zhao, X., Gao, P., Ji, P., 2021. Stabilization of Cd and Pb in the contaminated soils by applying modified fly ash. Soil Ecology Letters3, 242–252.

[10] Mir, Y., Wu, S., Ma, M., Ran, Y., Zhu, K., Mangwandi, C., Mirza, Z.A., 2022. Mercury contamination in the riparian ecosystem during the reservoir discharging regulated by a mega dam. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, doi:10.1007/s10653-022-01205-z

[11] Natasha, N., Shahid, M., Murtaza, B., Bibi, I., Khalid, S., Al-Kahtani, A.A., Naz, R., Ali, E.F., Niazi, N.K., Rinklebe, J., Shaheen, S.M., 2022b. Accumulation pattern and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in selected wastewater-irrigated soils and plants in Vehari, Pakistan. Environmental Research214, 114033.

[12] Natasha, S., Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Saleem, M., 2022a. Unrevealing arsenic and lead toxicity and antioxidant response in spinach: a human health perspective. Environmental Geochemistry and Health44, 487–496.

[13] Niazi, N.K., Bibi, I., Shahid, M., Ok, Y.S., Burton, E.D., Wang, H., Shaheen, S.M., Rinklebe, J., Lüttge, A., 2018. Arsenic removal by perilla leaf biochar in aqueous solutions and groundwater: an integrated spectroscopic and microscopic examination. Environmental Pollution232, 31–41.

[14] Nolan, A.L., McLaughlin, M.J., Mason, S.D., 2003. Chemical speciation of Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb in pore waters of agricultural and contaminated soils using Donnan Dialysis. Environmental Science & Technology37, 90–98.

[15] Qu, B., 2022. Rhizosphere bacteria degrade auxin to promote root growth. Soil Ecology Letters4, 93–96.

[16] Rafiq, M., Shahid, M., Abbas, G., Shamshad, S., Khalid, S., Niazi, N.K., Dumat, C., 2017. Comparative effect of calcium and EDTA on arsenic uptake and physiological attributes of Pisum sativum. International Journal of Phytoremediation19, 662–669.

[17] Sarwar, T., Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Shah, A.H., Ahmad, N., Naeem, M.A., 2020. Quantification and risk assessment of heavy metal build-up in soil–plant system after irrigation with untreated city wastewater in Vehari, Pakistan. Environmental Geochemistry and Health42, 4281–4297.

[18] Shah, A.H., Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Shabbir, Z., Bakhat, H.F., Murtaza, B., Farooq, A., Akram, M., Shah, G.M., Nasim, W., 2020. Assessment of arsenic exposure by drinking well water and associated carcinogenic risk in peri-urban areas of Vehari, Pakistan. Environmental Geochemistry and Health42, 121–133.

[19] Shahid, M., 2021. Effect of soil amendments on trace element-mediated oxidative stress in plants: Meta-analysis and mechanistic interpretations. Journal of Hazardous Materials407, 124881.

[20] Shahid, M., Niazi, N.K., Khalid, S., Murtaza, B., Bibi, I., Rashid, M.I., 2018. A critical review of selenium biogeochemical behavior in soil-plant system with an inference to human health. Environmental Pollution234, 915–934.

[21] Shahid, M., Niazi, N.K., Rinklebe, J., Bundschuh, J., Dumat, C., Pinelli, E., 2020. Trace elements-induced phytohormesis: A critical review and mechanistic interpretation. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology50, 1984–2015.

[22] Shahid, M., Pinelli, E., Dumat, C., 2012. Review of Pb availability and toxicity to plants in relation with metal speciation; role of synthetic and natural organic ligands. Journal of Hazardous Materials 219–220, 1–12

[23] Shahid, M., Pinelli, E., Pourrut, B., Silvestre, J., Dumat, C., 2011a. Lead-induced genotoxicity to Vicia faba L. roots in relation with metal cell uptake and initial speciation. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety74, 78–84.

[24] Shahid, M., Pourrut, B., Dumat, C., Winterton, P., Pinelli, E., 2011b. Lead uptake, toxicity, and detoxification in plants. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology213, 113–136.

[25] Szukalska, M., Merritt, T.A., Lorenc, W., Sroczyńska, K., Miechowicz, I., Komorowicz, I., Mazela, J., Barałkiewicz, D., Florek, E., 2021. Toxic metals in human milk in relation to tobacco smoke exposure. Environmental Research197, 111090.

[26] Wang, Y., Li, Y., Geng, H., Zuo, Q., Thunders, M., Qiu, J., 2022. Effect of arsenite on the proteome of earthworms Eisenia fetida. Soil Ecology Letters, doi:10.1007/s42832-021-0126-y

[27] Zhang, Y., Chen, J., Wang, L., Zhao, Y., Ou, P., Shi, W., 2018. Establishing a health risk assessment for metal speciation in soil—A case study in an industrial area in China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety166, 488–497.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no-known competing conflict of interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Shahid thanks HEC-Pakistan for NTPU-4423 project. This work was supported by the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program (DSFP) at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Electronic supplementary material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s42832-022-0162-2 and is accessible for authorized users.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2023  Higher Education Press