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Leachability of toxic elements from solid wastes

  • Applications of Radioanalytical Methods to Geological and Environmental Science
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Abstract

We have examined the leachability of the toxic elements cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and selenium from solid wastes. The solid wastes studied are municipal incinerator ash, coal fly ash, hospital incinerator ash, raw sewage sludge, sewage incinerator bottom ash, and sewage incinerator lagoon ash (which is a combination of bottom and fly ashes). Cadmium displayed the greatest leachability in all waste types, with 76% leached from the municipal refuse incinerator ash. Although the sources of elements in the wastes are diverse, the leachability and hence the bioavailability in the incinerator ash appears mainly determined by the volatility of the element.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, M5S 1A4, Ontario, Canada

    S. S. Krishnan, R. E. Jervis & L. D. Vela

  2. General Division, Medical Physics Department, The Toronto Hospital, Room CCRW-G-803, 200 Elizabeth Street, M5G 2C4, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    S. S. Krishnan

Authors
  1. S. S. Krishnan
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  2. R. E. Jervis
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  3. L. D. Vela
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Krishnan, S.S., Jervis, R.E. & Vela, L.D. Leachability of toxic elements from solid wastes. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 161, 181–187 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02034891

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02034891

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