Monitoring of the microbiota in the application of a nZVI-based nanoremediation strategy in heavy metal contaminated soil

The project addressed the efficiency of a nanoremediation strategy using zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), in a case of co-mingled heavy metals (HM) pollution (Pb, Cd and Zn) and a highly damaged soil environment. We applied a combined set of physical-chemical, toxicological and molecular analyses to assess the effectiveness and ecosafety of using nZVI (5% w/w) for environmental restoration. Theses analyses include the taxonomic analysis of the soil microbial community structure by NGS in nZVI-treated and non-treated samples at 0, 15 and 120 days of treatment.