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Graphene oxide-modified biochar & rainwater (O2) nanobubbles enable multifunctional remediation of Cyromazine, BPA, DEHP, and DPB in contaminated agricultural soil.

Payal Maharathi,Shang-Lien Lo

Published 2025 in Science of the Total Environment

ABSTRACT

The persistent accumulation of emerging organic contaminants such as Cyromazine, bisphenol A (BPA), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diphenyl phosphate (DPB) in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to food safety and soil health. This study introduces a sustainable, low-input remediation platform combining graphene oxide-modified biochar (B-GO) with oxygen nanobubbles (NBs) using rainwater to address both contaminant removal and fertility restoration. A three-cycle cultivation system of Boston lettuce was employed to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment in sandy loam soil. Results demonstrated that the combined B-GO + NBs treatment significantly improved plant growth, with up to 36.43 g dry biomass and 24.32 cm shoot height in Cycle 1, while enhancing nutrient retention (Ca: 413 mg kg-1, Fe: 82 mg kg-1, P: 89 mg kg-1) and cation exchange capacity (>45 cmol/kg). By Cycle 3, residual effectiveness was sustained, with lettuce maintaining 29.1 g biomass and 25.1 cm shoot height, and soil properties showing long-term improvement (SOC: 37.2 g kg-1 vs. 0.28 g kg-1 in controls; pH: 7.6 vs. 4.6; CEC >34 cmol/kg vs. <5 cmol/kg). Electrical conductivity remained within a safe range (0.12 dS/m), indicating nutrient retention without salinity risk. Contaminant uptake by plants was highest in the control (1.2-1.5 mg kg-1) but dropped to near-zero levels under the combined treatment across all cycles. Moreover, microbial diversity (Shannon index ∼7.2) and structure were significantly enhanced in treated soils. This integrative strategy not only detoxified polluted soil but also supported long-term crop productivity without additional fertilization. The findings underscore the potential of B-GO+NBs as a scalable and regenerative solution for remediating contaminated soils and enabling circular nutrient reuse in sustainable agriculture.

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