Heavy metals immobilization of ternary geopolymer based on nickel slag, lithium slag and metakaolin

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 453; p. 131380
• Main Authors: Fan, Jinyuan, Yan, Jiahao, Zhou, Mengya, Xu, Yuan, Lu, Yuwei, Duan, Ping, Zhu, Yingcan, Zhang, Zuhua, Li, Wengui, Wang, Aiguo, Sun, Daosheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.07.2023
• Subjects: Compressive strength; Heavy metals immobilization; Lithium slag; Nickel slag; Ternary geopolymer; Heavy metals immobilization; Nickel slag; Compressive strength; Lithium slag; Ternary geopolymer
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131380

To solve heavy metals leaching problem in the utilization of various industrial solid wastes, this work investigated the heavy metals immobilization of ternary geopolymer prepared by nickel slag (NS), lithium slag (LS), and metakaolin (MK). Compressive strength was measured to determine the optimum and appropriate mix proportions. The leaching characteristics of typical heavy metals (Cu (Ⅱ), Pb (Ⅱ), and Cr (Ⅲ)) in acid, alkali, and salt environments were revealed by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The heavy metals immobilization mechanism was explored by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests. The experimental results show that the group with a mass ratio of NS, LS and MK of 1:1:8 exhibits the highest compressive strength, which reaches 69.1 MPa at 28 d. The ternary geopolymer possesses a desirable capacity for immobilizing inherent heavy metals, where the immobilization rates of Cu and Pb reach 96.69 %, and that of Cr reaches 99.97 %. The leaching concentrations of Cr and Pb increase when the samples are exposed to acidic and alkaline environments. Cu and Pb are mainly physically encapsulated in geopolymer. Additionally, immobilization of Cr mainly involves physical encapsulation and chemical bonding. [Display omitted] •Using multiple industrial solid wastes as precursors to prepare ternary geopolymer.•28-day immobilization rates achieve 96.69 % for Cu and Pb and 99.97 % for Cr.•Compressive strength of the geopolymer with 2.0 wt % Cr decreases by 96.5 % at 28 d.•Acid, alkali, and salt environments exposure for ternary geopolymer.•Immobilization of Cr involves physically encapsulated and chemically bonded.