Title: Enhancing soil health and plant growth: Carbon-based remediation for heavy metal removal and microorganism enrichment

Acronym: EARTH-CARE

Field: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Biodiversity, Agriculture and Environment

Programme: 5.8 European and international cooperation, 5.8.3 Subprogram Bilateral / multilateral mobility project Romania – France, Brancusi Integrated Actions Program

Contract no.: 2BMFR/2024

Financing Authority: Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI), Romania

Partner Romania: INCDO-INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Donath Street 67, RO-400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Phone: +40-264-420590, Fax: 0264-420667 Email: oana.cadar@icia.ro

Project responsible: Dr. Oana Cadar

Partner France: Institute Jean Lamour, Philippe Séguin Street 27, Epinal, FR- 88000, Franta, Email: vanessa.fierro@univ-lorraine.fr,

Project responsible: Dr. Vanessa Fierro

Project duration: 26.08.2024-31.12.2025

General objectives

  • O1. Assessment of the impact of activated carbon on soil health and fertility through heavy metal removal and microbial enrichment
  • O2. Development of scientific cooperation and joint research activities between the Romanian partner (INCDO INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation) and the French partner (Institute Jean Lamour) as a support to increase the number of researchers and organizations involved in international collaborations and to intensify Romania’s participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

Description

Environmental pollution represents a significant impediment to emerging a sustainable society, with negative consequences on the quality of the environment and human health. Developing technologies to remediate polluted soils is a subject of international interest, and active carbon-based materials represent an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. The EARTH-CARE project involved collaboration between a Romanian research institute (INCDO INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, ICIA) and a French research institute (Institute Jean Lamour, IJL). The French partner provided expertise in customizing carbon-based materials, while the Romanian partner contributed experience in soil remediation using porous amendments. The project aimed to evaluate the impact of activated carbon on soil health and fertility through heavy metal immobilization and enhancement of microbial activity. Results were disseminated via publications in

ISI-indexed journals and presentations at international conferences. The project strengthened scientific cooperation between Romania and France, supporting joint research activities, increasing the number of researchers and institutions involved in international collaborations, and enhancing Romania’s participation in the EU research and innovation framework program.

WP1. Design of tailored activated carbons for soil decontamination and microorganism enrichment (2024)

  • A1.1. Visit of the Romanian researchers to the French partner. Design of tailored activated carbons with appropriate features for intended application
  • A1.2. Visit of the French researchers to the Romanian partner. Assessment of heavy metal mobility in soil by chemical extractions
  • A1.3. Results dissemination. Interim report

WP2. Testing of activated carbon samples for soil remediation and microorganism enrichment (2025)

  • A2.1. Visit of Romanian researchers to the French partner. Laboratory-scale production of customized activated carbon samples
  • A2.2. Visit of the French researchers to the Romanian partner. Investigation of heavy-metal immobilization in soil through pot-scale laboratory experiments
  • A2.3. Dissemination of results and final report

Obtained results

– Optimized activated carbon-based material, with enhanced structural and functional properties for heavy metal immobilization; – Experimental report on the assessment of heavy metal mobility in soil, including analysis of relevant physicochemical parameters; – Experimental report on heavy metal immobilization in soil, validating the performance of the activated carbon material under controlled and real conditions; – Practical method for heavy metal immobilization in soil, applicable to real-world soil remediation scenarios.

Invited lectures

  1. “Bio-sourced and low value-added precursors for porous materials production: Synthesis, characterization and applications”, Dr. Jimena Castro-Gutiérrez, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
  2. “From Cluj-Napoca to Epinal: Research, Innovation and Collaboration”, Dr. Oana Cadar, Epinal, Franta.
  3. “Bio-sourced and low value-added precursors for porous materials production: Synthesis, characterization and applications”, Prof. Dr. Vanessa Fierro, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
  4. “Synthesis of hard carbons from phenolic-type resins for Na-ion batteries”, Drd. Yasmine Hammi, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Working visits carried out during the bilateral project

►21.10-27.10.2024, collaborative visit of the Romanian team (ICIA) to France (IJL): Dr. Oana Cadar and PhD student Eniko Kovacs; ►08.12-13.12.2024, collaborative visit of the French team (IJL) to Romania: Dr. Jimena Castro-Gutiérrez and PhD student Monica Aoun; ►09.11.-15.11.2025, collaborative visit of the Romanian team (ICIA) to France (IJL): Dr. Oana Cadar and Dr. Eniko Kovacs; ►27.11.-29.11.2025, collaborative visit of the French team (IJL) to Romania: Prof. Dr. Vanessa Fierro and PhD student Yasmine Hammi.

ISI papers

  1. Senila, M.; Cadar, O. Composites Based on Natural Zeolites and Green Materials for the Immobilization of Toxic Elements in Contaminated Soils: A Review. Materials 2024, 17, 5977. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235977 (IF=3.1), section Green Materials, Special Issue: Recent Advances in the Environmental Remediation Using Zeolites and Other Adsorbent Materials.
  2. E. Levei, E. Kovacs, M. Senila, V. Fierro, O. Cadar*, In situ immobilization of potentially toxic elements in soil using agricultural byproducts and wastes: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 2025, 394, 127326 (IF=8,4) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127326.
  3. A. Moldovan, I.-C. Mirea, A.I. Torok, M.L. Tîrlă, E.A. Levei, O.T. Moldovan, Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution pattern and environmental risk in soils from Carpathian areas using a GIS-based approach and pollution indices. Land 2025, 14, 2221. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14112221.

Participation at scientific events

  1. O. Cadar, E. Kovacs, E. Levei, A.I. Torok, J. Castro Gutierrez, V. Fierro, Potential of wood-based activated carbon to mitigate toxic elements uptake in spinach for safe consumption, The 2nd International Online Conference on Toxics, IOCTO, 8-10 September 2025, E-Poster.
  2. O. Cadar, E. Kovacs, M. Șenilă, C. Tănăselia, A.I. Torok, M. Roman, V. Fierro, Natural soil amendments – Impact on the uptake of toxic elements in arugula (Eruca sativa) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Agriculture and Food – current and future challenges, AGRIFA, online, 24.10.2025, E-Poster.
  3. J. Castro-Gutierrez, E. Kovacs, P/ Gadonneix, A. Celzard, O. Cadar, V. Fierro, Wood-based activated carbon as a soil amendment to mitigate cadmium and chromium toxicity, V Workshop on Adsorption, Catalysis and Porous Materials, V WACPM, 19-21 November 2025, Bogota, Columbia, poster.

Other information

Contact: Dr. Oana Cadar, oana.cadar@icia.ro