Pollutant and Soil Types Influence Effectiveness of Soil-Applied Absorbents in Reducing Rice Plant Uptake of Persistent Organic Pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soils are an environmental concern due to their long-term bioavailability, which could be reduced by adding adsorbents. However, testing of these adsorbents is necessary prior to widespread field application. The effects of three adsorbents, nano-organic montmorillonite, nano-organic silicon dioxide (SiO2), and activated carbon, on hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were tested in a greenhouse experiment using two soils, a Hydragric Acrisol (Ac) and a Gleyi-Stagnic Anthrosol (An). The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of HCB and PeCB to rice roots were 2.3–3.7 and 2.0–3.0 times those to rice shoots, respectively. The applications of the three adsorbents decreased HCB and PeCB extractability in Ac, while only the application of activated carbon decreased their extractability in An. The bioavailability of HCB and PeCB to rice plants in Ac was higher than that in An. In Ac, the applications of nano-organic SiO2 and activated carbon decreased the BCF of HCB to rice roots by 16.1% and 26.8%, respectively, whereas only the application of activated carbon decreased the BCF of PeCB to rice roots by 31.4%, compared to the control. In An, only the application of activated carbon decreased the BCFs of HCB and PeCB to rice roots by 22.9% and 18.2%, respectively, compared to the control. However, the application of nano-organic montmorillonite inhibited rice growth in both soils. The results of this study suggested that the effectiveness of adsorbents would vary with pollutant and soil types, providing a reference point for developing efficient adsorbents to reduce the ecological risk of POPs.