Heavy metals remediation with potential application in cocoa cultivation

Abstract

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) worldwide has increased its area sown and yield per hectare, however currently producers are facing strong legislation issued by the European Union regarding the maximum levels of lead and cadmium that must have chocolates that contain an amount greater than or equal to 50% cocoa solids. Based on a review of the work carried out around the world and published in the last three years in global databases are presented, in the ?rst instance, the problems caused in people by the consumption of food contaminated by heavy metals and the routes through which the cocoa can be contaminated, from its planting to its processing. The remediation techniques (phytoremediationandbioremediation) that have obtained good results regarding the cleaning of contaminated soils or that avoid the transfer of the contents of lead and cadmium from the soil to several Crops of commercial interest to have options of potential application in the cacao areas of Colombia or anywhere in the world. The results show the importance of implementing an integrated soil remediation system that includes the gradual incorporation of native trees, herbaceous plants, aquatic plants, biochar, bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizae. Keywords: Phytoremediation, bioremediation, lead, cadmium