Improving sustainability in the remediation of contaminated soils by the use of compost and energy valorization by Paulownia fortunei

9 páginas.-- 6 figuras.-- 5 tablas.-- 39 referencias.-- 1 tabla como archivo suplementario.he plantation of fast growing trees in contaminated sites, in combination with the use of organic wastes, could partially solve a dual environmental problem: the disposal of these wastes and the improvement of soil quality in these degraded soils. This study evaluated the effects of two compost on the quantity and quality of Paulownia fortunei biomass and on syngas production by biomass gasification, produced by plants growing on trace elements contaminated soils. Compost increased biomass production to values similar to those produced in non-contaminated soils, due to the improvement in plant nutritional status. Moreover, biomass quality for gasification was increased by compost addition. Trace element accumulation in the biomass was relatively low and not related to biomass production or the gas quality obtained through gasification. Thus, P. fortunei plantations could pose an opportunity to improve the economic balance of the revegetation of contaminated soils, given that other commercial uses such as food or fodder crop production is not recommended in these soils. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.This study was mainly financed by the Autonomous Community of AndalusiaRNM-6398, which was co-financed with FEDER funds (European fund for regional development). M.T.D. was supported by a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral grant awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and by a Young Researcher Grant awarded by Fundación Iberdrola.Peer reviewe