This study tested two sediment amendments with active sorbents:
injection of aluminum (Al) into sediments and thin-layer capping with
Polonite (calcium–silicate), with and without the addition
of activated carbon (AC), for their simultaneous sequestration of
sediment phosphorus (P), hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs),
and metals. Sediment cores were collected from a eutrophic and polluted
brackish water bay in Sweden and incubated in the laboratory to measure
sediment-to-water contaminant release and effects on biogeochemical
processes. We used diffusive gradients in thin-film passive samplers
for metals and semi-permeable membrane devices for the HOC polychlorinated
biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Al injection into
anoxic sediments completely stopped the release of P and reduced the
release of cadmium (Cd, −97%) and zinc (Zn, −95%) but
increased the sediment fluxes of PAH (+49%), compared to the untreated
sediment. Polonite mixed with AC reduced the release of P (−70%),
Cd (−67%), and Zn (−89%) but increased methane (CH4) release. Adding AC to the Al or Polonite reduced the release
of HOCs by 40% in both treatments. These results not only demonstrate
the potential of innovative remediation techniques using composite
sorbent amendments but also highlight the need to assess possible
ecological side effects on, for example, sedimentary microbial processes.