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Bioremediation - From Barren Lands to Recovery of Natural Ecosystems in Kola Subarctic

Project No. 15-14-20021
Research Project of the Russian Science Foundation
July 2015-December 2017



Project Leader:

Prof. Graeme Spiers
Leading Research Scientist,
Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University, Russia,
Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

(for addresses see below)    


Participants:



Project aim:

the development of the theoretical foundations of the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals, critical analysis of existing approaches to remediation, and the elaboration of science-based effective technologies for the recovery of technogenic areas.



Objectives:



Summary:

The multidisciplinary integrative research described in this proposal will help sustainable economic and ecological development of the industrial regions of Russian Arctic and Subarctic. Mining and metallurgy in the Kola Peninsula have contributed significantly to the economy for more than 70 years, whilst also dramatically impacting the fragile natural environment in the Extreme North. Large scale anthropogenic pollution and the important role of soils in the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and human life determine the relevance of research topics. The limitations of soil and plant resources in the harsh conditions of the Arctic makes problem more acute. The main focus will be on alfehumic soils of Kola Subarctic, for seventy years to be affected by the largest in northern Europe sources of atmospheric emissions of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals - combines “Severonikel” and “Pechenganikel.”

Complex processes that determine the mobility of heavy metals in soils, their bioavailability and toxicity to living organisms under conditions of intense anthropogenic effects are not well understood despite numerous studies. The project will study the main physical and chemical processes and mechanisms that control binding and mobilization of heavy metals in soils, – the adsorption of cations on the surface of the solid phase, the precipitation of low-soluble compounds, complexation with organic matter. The main attention will be paid to the study of the adsorption of metals by soils and ameliorants of mineral and organic origin. In assessing the effectiveness of bioremediation attention will be paid to interactions with lime – traditional agricultural ameliorants for acidic soils, relatively little investigated for heavy metal detoxification. Authors will explore the use of organic materials, including humic and humic-bacterial preparations that received recently a special interest in connection with the problems of remediation of contaminated soils.

A multidisciplinary team of specialists in the field of soil science, soil chemistry, microbiology, geobotany, ecology, physics and mathematical modeling will theoretically analyze and study experimentally the efficiency of different methods in remediation of contaminated soils on the basis of a system approach, using a wide range of field and laboratory methods, including a series of pot and long-term field experiments. Modern instrumental methods of analysis and data processing will be used to evaluate the composition and properties of soil, vegetation and soil solutions and their changes in a result of remediation.



   Technogenic impact



   Soil remediation in the vicinity of nickel-copper smelters in the Kola Peninsula



   Sudbury Experience (Ontario, Canada)



   1st phase results:

As a result of conjugated field and analytical studies we estimated the state of industrial barrens before and after remediation near the plants Severonikel and Pechenganikel in the Kola Subarctic.

The soils of the industrial barrens formed under the impact of long-term air pollution around the copper-nickel smelters are acidic, depleted in nutrients, contaminated with heavy metals, and strongly eroded. Barrens near (2 km) the pollution sources totally devoid of vegetation, while at a distance of 4-5 km undergrowth of deciduous tree species (mainly goat willow and birch) is preserved. Herb-shrub and moss-lichen layers are absent.

Chemo-phytostabilisation includes planting native species of deciduous trees and shrubs (mostly willow and birch) without prior preparation of the soil, with simultaneous sowing of perennial grasses and introduction of ameliorants (lime) and mineral fertilizers. Cost-effective, it gives only a short-term effect, requiring constant maintenance. Planted trees and shrubs have greatly oppressed look and live ground cover is not restored.

Overlapping contaminated soil by an artificially created layer of organic-mineral substrates, followed by liming and fertilization promotes a sharp and lasting reduction of acidity, decreasing the bioavailability of heavy metals, and improving supply of nutrients in willow and birch plantings. Sparse deciduous young stands are formed with a predominance of goat willow and / or birch of a higher level of vitality developed from planted forest cultures and recovered ground cover with cereals and / or meadow horsetail.

The effectiveness of bioremediation depends on the level of contamination, composition and thickness of the constructed soil layer, the species composition and quality of planting material as well as the related measures to optimize the soil condition on the basis of continuous monitoring.



Contact person

Sergey Koptsik
Senior researcher
Faculty of  Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Moscow, 119991, Russia
Tel..:
E-mail:
+7 495 939 11 45
koptsik (.at.) phys.msu.ru