Use of inorganic and organic wastes for in situ immobilisation of Pb and Zn in a contaminated alkaline soil

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 1260 - 1270
• Main Authors: Zhou, Y-F., Haynes, R. J., Naidu, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.05.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Airborne particulates; Alkaline soils; Analytical chemistry; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioavailability; Biological Availability; Chemical Fractionation; Chloris gayana; Composting; Composts; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Edetic acid; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Extraction processes; Grasses; Heavy metals; Immobilization; Industrial Waste; Lead; Lead (metal); Lead - chemistry; Lead - pharmacokinetics; Metallurgy; Metals; Mills; Mud; Organic soils; Organic wastes; Poaceae - drug effects; Poaceae - growth & development; Poaceae - metabolism; Red mud; Research Article; Sandy soils; Sewage - chemistry; Slag; Sludge; Smelters; Soil (material); Soil - chemistry; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Soil pollution; South Australia; Studies; Waste materials; Waste Water Technology; Wastes; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment; Zinc; Zinc - chemistry; Zinc - pharmacokinetics; Queensland Australia; Australia; South Australia Australia; Metal fixation; Extractable metals; Metal immobilisation; Heavy metals
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-011-0648-4

Purpose This study aims to examine whether addition of immobilising agents to a sandy, alkaline (pH = 8.1) soil, which had been contaminated with Pb and Zn by airborne particles from a Pb/Zn smelter, would substantially reduce metal bioavailability. Methods The effectiveness of five waste materials (blast furnace (BF) slag, alum water treatment (WT) sludge, red mud, sugar mill mud and green waste compost) as metal immobilising agents was evaluated by incubating them with a contaminated soil for a period of 12 months at rates of 5% and 10% ( w / w ), after which, Rhodes grass was grown in the soils in a greenhouse study. Results Additions of WT sludge, BF slag and red mud reduced CaCl 2 , CH 3 COOH, HCl and EDTA-extractable Zn but compost and mill mud had no appreciable immobilising effects. Additions of all amendments reduced levels of CaCl 2 , CH 3 COOH and HCl-extractable Pb although concentrations of EDTA-extractable Pb remained unchanged. A sequential extraction procedure showed that additions of mill mud and compost increased the percentage of total Pb and Zn present in the oxidisable fraction whilst additions of the other materials increased the percentage present in the residual fraction. Rhodes grass yields were promoted greatly by additions of red mud, compost and particularly mill mud, and yields were negatively correlated with tissue Pb concentrations and extractable Pb. Conclusions Red mud was the most effective material for lowering extractable Pb and Zn levels simultaneously while mill mud and compost were notably effective for Pb. A field evaluation in the study area is justified.