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Effect of different sulfides on cadmium distribution during sludge combustion based on experimental and thermodynamic calculation approaches

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Abstract

The effects of sulfur compounds on the migration of a semi-volatile heavy metal (cadmium) during sludge incineration were investigated with two methods, i.e., experiments in a tubular furnace reactor and thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The representative typical sludge with and without the addition of sulfur compounds was incinerated at 850 °C. The partitioning of Cd among the solid phase (bottom ash) and gas phase (fly ash and flue gas) was quantified. The results indicate that sulfur compounds in the elemental form and a reduced state could stabilize Cd in the form of CdS, aluminosilicate minerals, and polymetallic sulfides, whereas sulfur in the oxidized forms slightly increases Cd volatilization during incineration. For Cd solidification points, the inhibition effect on the volatilization of Cd is as follows: S > Na2SO4 > Na2S. Chemical equilibrium calculations indicate that sulfur binds with Cd and alters Cd speciation at low temperatures (<950 K). Furthermore, SiO2- and Al2O3-containing minerals can function as sorbents stabilizing Cd as condensed phase solids (CdSiO4 and CdAl2O4) according to the results of equilibrium calculations. These findings provide useful information for understanding the partitioning of Cd and thus facilitate the development of strategies to control Cd volatilization during sludge incineration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51308132); the Scientific and Technological Planning Project of Guangdong Province (no. 2012B050300023); the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (S2013040013022); the foundation for distinguished young talents in higher education of Guangdong, China (no. 2012LYM_0055); and the cooperation foundation for industry, university and research institute, Guangdong Province and Ministry of Education (no. 2011B090400161, no. 2011B090400144, no. 2012B090700005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Jing-Yong Liu, Jie-Wen Fu, Shui-Yu Sun, Xun-An Ning, Yu-Jie Wang, Wu-Ming Xie, Zuo-Yi Yang & Zhong-Xu Zhuo

  2. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Tao Chen

  3. State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huangzhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Guang-Qian Luo

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  1. Jing-Yong Liu
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Liu, JY., Fu, JW., Sun, SY. et al. Effect of different sulfides on cadmium distribution during sludge combustion based on experimental and thermodynamic calculation approaches. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 1113–1126 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3368-8

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