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Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
This thesis focuses on the use of insoluble hydrophilic polyacrylate polymers and
compost from mixed municipal solid waste to remediate long-term
metal-contaminated soils. Polymers improved plant growth and soil health in a
Cd-contaminated soil and in a mine soil. This resulted from microcosms formed by
polymers throughout contaminated soil where roots and microorganisms could
proliferate. A polymer from diapers lead to similar growth of a native plant as a
polyacrylate polymer with Na+
Transport of polymers in soil columns was small, suggesting that the risk of
groundwater contamination with polymers is negligible.
, but shredded diapers performed less well,
presumably because of the plastic and fibrous materials present.
Dactylis glomerata L. led to the greatest activites of several enzymes in
compost-amended mine soil compared with Erica australis L., which impaired
dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities.
The greatest improvements in the mine soil were obtained with polymer plus
compost, but acid phosphatase was mainly enhanced by polymer and
dehydrogenase by compost. The greatest biomass of native species was obtained in
soil receiving both amendments, but species responded differently to treatment,
suggesting that botanical composition could change over time.
Description
Doutoramento em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Keywords
polyacrylate polymer compost contaminated soil heavy metals phytostabilization polímeros de poliacrilato composto solos contaminados metais pesados fitoestabilização