CANBERRA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from China and Australia have discovered a nanotechnology-based solution to reduce heavy metal contamination in pig manure for a more sustainable pork sector, a news release from the University of South Australia said on Monday.

As the world's largest pork producer, China processes 628 million pigs annually. However, excessive amounts of copper found in pig manure are contaminating soil and water.

A study by China's Fujian Normal University and the University of South Australia found that adding green-synthesized iron nanoparticles (G-nFe) to pig manure compost reduces bioavailable copper by up to 66.8 percent, minimizing environmental risks.

"This process was able to convert free copper into a less bioavailable form, reducing the potential for uptake by plants," said Gary Owens, associate professor at the University of South Australia, co-author of the study published on Monday in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Due to its cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, and strong absorption rates, green-synthesized iron nanoparticles are already used for soil and water remediation, but this is the first study to explore their role in organic compost, which is a significant step forward in addressing heavy metal contamination in agricultural waste, according to Owens.

In China, passivation of metal toxicity in pig manure is a major challenge, according to the research authors led by Yang Wenqing of the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fujian Normal University.

Although an essential nutrient in small doses, high concentrations of copper -- added to pig feed to promote growth -- are toxic to plants, soil, water and humans.

Researchers now aim to test the method at scale, hoping to drive adoption among livestock farmers and composting industries for a more sustainable pork sector. Enditem

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