(25) Assessment of the role of compost in remediation of soil in Sudan, Dr. Sarra Saad and Abutalib Mohammed

Dr. Sarra Ahmed Mohamed Saad and Abutalib Balla Guma Mohammed
National Center for Research
Sudan

DOI: 10.47556/J.IJIKMMENA.3.1.2014.5

Purpose: The aim of this research is to study the effect and role of compost in adsorbing metals and in remediation of polluted soil.
Design/methodology/approach: A laboratory experiment was conducted under normal air temperature. Composted bagasse (sugarcane byproduct) of known quality was added to sandy soil samples with different mixing ratios: 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:4 (w/w) loading rates. Cadmium sulphate solutions with different concentrations (Cd1-Cd6) were added to the compost: soil mixture. The mixtures were mixed for one hour, allowed to stand for 24 hr under room temperature (35°C) and then filtered. Cadmium concentration in the filtrate was determined in ppm. The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance.
Findings: Results showed that compost addition significantly increased the sorption of cadmium, in linear correlation with the amount of compost added. The sorption coefficient was reached at Cd5 concentration. The results also revealed the importance of compost use in remediation of metal-contaminated soils.
Keywords: Compost Use, Polluted Soil, Soil Remediation.