Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Viability of adding gypsum and calcite for remediation of metal-contaminated soil: laboratory and pilot plant scales

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of adding waste materials (gypsum and calcite) for the remediation of a soil contaminated by pyritic minerals was examined. Materials were characterised in terms of their acid neutralisation capacity (ANC), sorption capacity and structural components. Their effect on the contaminant leaching in soil + material mixtures over a wide range of pH was also evaluated. Results at laboratory and pilot plant scales were compared to account for the potential variability in the material efficiency when applied at larger scale. The use of gypsum permitted its valorisation, although calcite was a more effective amendment because its addition led to a greater increase in the pH and acid neutralisation capacity, and thus in the sorption capacity in the resulting soil + material mixture. In the same way, when the combination of gypsum + calcite was added to the soil, it led to an increase in the pH from 2.5 to 6.9 and in the ANC from −86 to 1,513 meq/kg. As a result, the concentration of extractable heavy metals and As was reduced, and they were successfully immobilised both at laboratory and at pilot plant scales. Thus, the use of these materials induced a significant reduction in the contaminant mobility and permitted the valorisation of waste materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown S, Christensen B, Lombi E, McLaughlin M, McGrath S, Colpaert J, Vangronsveld J (2005) An inter-laboratory study to test the ability of amendments to reduce the availability of Cd, Pb, and Zn in situ. Environ Pollut 138:34–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buscarons F, Capitán García F, Capitán Vallvey LF (1986) Análisis orgánico cualitativo sistemático. Reverté, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Cappuyns V, Van Herreweghe S, Swennen R, Ottenburgs R, Deckers J (2002) Arsenic pollution at the industrial site of Reppel–Bocholt (north Belgium). Sci Total Environ 295:217–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cappuyns V, Swennen R, Verhulst J (2004) Assessment of acid neutralizing capacity and potential mobilisation of trace metals from land-disposed dredged sediments. Sci Total Environ 333:233–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CEN, TS 15364 (2006a) Characterization of waste. Leaching behaviour tests. Acid and base neutralization capacity test. European Committee of Standardisation, Brussels

  • CEN/TS 14429 (2006b) Characterization of waste. Leaching behaviour tests. Influence of pH on leaching with initial acid/base addition. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

  • Chang YT, Hsi HC, Hseu ZY, Jheng SL (2013) Chemical stabilization of cadmium in acidic soil using alkaline agronomic and industrial by-products. J Environ Sci Health A 48:1748–1756

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra J, Meeussen J, Comans R (2004) Leaching of heavy metals from contaminated soils: an experimental and modeling study. Environ Sci Technol 38:4390–4395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra J, van der Sloot HA, Comans R (2006) The leaching of major and trace elements from MSWI bottom ash as a function of pH and time. Appl Geochem 21:335–351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DIN (1984) Sludge and sediments (group S). Determination of leachability by water, DIN 38414-S4

  • European Council (2003) Decision 2003/33/CE, establishing criteria and procedure for the acceptance of waste at landfill pursuant to Article 16 and Annex II to Directive 1999/31/CE. Official Journal of European Communities, EU Commission, Brussels

  • Garrido F, Illera V, Vizcayno C, García-González MT (2005) Effect of the addition of gypsum- and lime-rich industrial by-products on Cd, Cu and Pb availability and leachability in metal-spiked acid soils. App Geochem 20:397–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garrido F, Illera V, Vizcayno C, García-González MT (2006) Regulating the mobility of Cd, Cu and Pb in an acid soil with amendments of phosphogypsum, sugar foam, and phosphoric rock. Eur J Soil Sci 57:95–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • González-Núñez R, Alba MD, Orta MM, Vidal M, Rigol A (2011) Remediation of metal contaminated soils with the addition of materials. Part I: characterization and viability studies for the selection of non-hazardous waste materials and silicates for soil remediation. Chemosphere 85:1511–1517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimalt JO, Ferrer M, Macpherson E (1999) The mine tailing accident in Aznalcollar. Sci Total Environ 242:3–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamon RE, McLaughlin MJ, Cozens G (2002) Mechanisms of attenuation of metal availability in in situ remediation treatments. Environ Sci Technol 36:3991–3996

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Illera V, Garrido F, Serrano S, García-González MT (2004) Immobilization of the heavy metals Cd, Cu and Pb in an acid soil amended with gypsum- and lime-rich industrial by-products. Eur J Soil Sci 55:135–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Junta de Andalucía (1999) Los criterios y estándares para declarar un suelo contaminado en Andalucía y la metodología y técnicas de toma de muestra y análisis para su investigación. Consejería del Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosson DS, van der Sloot HA, Sanchez F, Garrabrants AC (2002) An integrated framework for evaluating leaching in waste management and utilization of secondary materials. Environ Eng Sci 19:159–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumpiene J, Lagerkvist A, Maurice C (2007) Stabilization of Pb- and Cu contaminated soil using coal fly ash and peat. Environ Pollut 145:365–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumpiene J, Lagerkvist A, Maurice C (2008) Stabilization of As, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in soil using amendments—A review. J Waste Manage 28:215–225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lombi E, Zhao FJ, Zhang G, Sun B, Fitz W, Zhang H, McGrath SP (2002) In situ fixation of metals in soils using bauxite residue: chemical assessment. Environ Pollut 118:435–443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mani D, Kumar C (2013) Biotechnological advances in bioremediation of heavy metals contaminated ecosystems: an overview with special reference to phytoremediation. Int J Environ Sci Technol. doi:10.1007/s13762-013-0299-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Marqués APGC, Rangel AOSS, Castro PML (2011) Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils: an overview of site remediation techniques. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 1:879–914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meima JA, Comans RNJ (1997) Geochemical modeling of weathering reactions in municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash. Environ Sci Technol 31:1269–1276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moon DH, Park JW, Cheong KH, Hyun S, Koutsospyros A, Park JH, Ok YS (2013) Stabilization of lead and cooper contaminated firing range soil using calcined oyster shells and fly ash. Environ Geochem Health 35:705–714

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moraza CJ, Iglesias N, Palencia I (2006) Application of sugar foam to a pyrite-contaminated soil. Miner Eng 19:399–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rigol A, Mateu J, González-Núñez R, Rauret G, Vidal M (2009) pHstat versus single extraction tests to evaluate heavy metals and arsenic leachability in environmental samples. Anal Chim Acta 632:69–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Jordá MO, Garrido F, García-González MT (2010) Potential use of gypsum and lime rich industrial by-products for induced reduction of Pb, Zn and Ni leachability in an acid soil. J Hazard Mater 175:762–769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roig M, Vidal M, Rauret G, Rigol A (2007) Prediction of radionuclide aging in soils from the Chernobyl and Mediterranean areas. J Environ Qual 36:943–952

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sauvé S, Hendershot W, Allen HE (2000) Solid-solution partitioning of metals in contaminated soils: dependence on pH, total metal burden, and organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 34:1125–1131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi W, Shao H, Li H, Shao M, Du S (2009) Progress in the remediation of hazardous heavy metal-polluted soils by natural zeolite. J Hazard Mater 170:1–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tack FMG (2010) Trace elements: general soil chemistry, principles and processes. In: Hooda PS (ed) Trace elements in soils. Wiley, United Kingdom, pp 20–21

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia de España (Projects CTQ2010-14874 and CTM2011-27211) and Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR 2009SGR1188). ICP-OES analyses were conducted at the CCiT of the UB. XRD measurements were conducted at the CITIUS of the USA. The authors would like to thank HC Energía for supplying the materials, BEFESA for supplying the contaminated soils and for the access to the pilot plant and in the context of the project funded by the Secretaría General para la Prevención de la Contaminación y el Cambio Climático (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, contract 300/PC/08/3-01.1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Química Analítica, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 3a Planta, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    R. González-Núñez, M. Vidal & A. Rigol

  2. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Américo Vespucio 49, 41092, Seville, Spain

    M. D. Alba

Authors
  1. R. González-Núñez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. D. Alba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Vidal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Rigol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Rigol.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 2089 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

González-Núñez, R., Alba, M.D., Vidal, M. et al. Viability of adding gypsum and calcite for remediation of metal-contaminated soil: laboratory and pilot plant scales. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 12, 2697–2710 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-014-0671-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-014-0671-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation