The Effect of Zeolite and Bentonite on the Bioavailability of Zinc, Cadmium and Lead in a Contaminated Soil under Sunflower Cultivation

During last century, waste water of gold mine has accumulated heavy metals such as lead, zinc and cadmium in Zarshuran region soil, and thus has increased epidemic disease in this region drastically. The purpose of this research was to reduce the mobility and bioavailability of zinc, lead and cadmium in rhizosphere of sunflower grown in soil around the mine by inorganic sorbents. A pot experiments was carried out with three levels of raw zeolites (1, 6, 12 wt%), three levels of raw bentonite (1, 6, 12 wt%) and control (without sorbent) in a completely randomized block design with three replications. After cultivation, soil and plant samples were taken and the concentration of lead, cadmium and zinc in their samples were measured. Different levels of bentonite reduced the absorbable concentration of lead and zinc; and also reduced their absorbable concentrations in plant tissue, but had no significant effect on reducing absorbable concentration of cadmium. Transfer factor for all three metals in the roots was more than shoot and reducing the concentration of heavy metals in the plant had no impact on plant growth. According to the study, level of 12 wt% of the raw bentonite was the most suitable sorbent for the stabilization of lead and zinc; and level of 12 wt% for raw zeolite was the best sorbent for stabilization of cadmium.