# Prospects for the Use of MICP Technology in the Remediation of Saline–Alkaline Soil Heavy Metal Pollution

## TL;DR

This review explores how MICP technology can help clean up heavy metal pollution in saline-alkaline soils, while addressing challenges like salt stress and ammonia emissions.

## Contribution

The paper introduces strategies like combining MICP with biochar to improve remediation in saline-alkaline soils.

## Key findings

- MICP immobilizes heavy metals by forming calcium carbonate precipitates.
- Salt-alkali stress and ammonia emissions are major barriers to MICP application.
- Biochar integration shows promise in enhancing MICP effectiveness and reducing ammonia volatilization.

## Abstract

Soil salinization and heavy metal pollution represent significant global challenges to farmland sustainability and food security. Globally, over 800 million hectares of land are affected by salinity, with approximately 17% of cultivated land exhibiting concentrations of at least one heavy metal exceeding established agricultural safety thresholds. Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is an innovative biogeochemical process that harnesses microbial metabolic activities to facilitate soil mineralization. The core mechanism involves ureolytic microorganisms hydrolyzing urea to produce carbonate ions (CO32−). These ions subsequently react with environmental calcium ions (Ca2+) to form insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitates. This review synthesizes recent research progress on the application of MICP technology for the remediation of heavy metal pollution. It elucidates the mechanistic pathways by which MICP immobilizes heavy metal ions and critically evaluates its potential application for ameliorating heavy metal contamination specifically within saline–alkaline soils. Key challenges impeding the broader practical deployment of MICP are analyzed, particularly concerning salt-alkali stress tolerance and the management of ammonia emissions during urea hydrolysis. Emerging strategies, such as the synergistic integration of MICP with biochar amendments, offer promising solutions. Biochar can provide a protective microenvironment for microbial consortia and potentially mitigate ammonia volatilization, thereby enhancing the overall efficacy and feasibility of this remediation approach for contaminated saline–alkaline lands.