The utilization of biomass residues as sources for natural
chelates is a new approach to improve the ecological and
economical balance of leaching techniques for the remediation of metal-polluted soils. Residues, such as
molasses, blood meal, and silage effluents, containing
various
aliphatic carboxylic acids, sugar acids, and amino acids
or their precursor compounds were selected, hydrolyzed
and oxidized, if required, and analyzed for their organic
constituents. Soils that were contaminated with metals
via
sewage sludge amendment were extracted in batch and
column experiments at various pH values. Grass silage
effluent removed ∼75% of Cd and >50% of Cu and Zn at
pH
4.4. The neutralized effluent was less effective
except
for Cu (69% leached). The neutral blood meal
hydrolysate
extracted primarily Cu (55−66%) and Ni (38−67%).
Metal
bonds attacked by this extractant were identified using a
sequential leaching procedure. Hydrolysates
containing
sugar acids mobilized Cu and Pb under alkaline
conditions. The actual results support the conclusion
that biomass residues have a potential to serve as
extractants
in remediation techniques.