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PAHs in leachates from thermal power plant wastes and ash-based construction materials

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Abstract

The focus of the current study is to characterise the leaching behaviour of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from oil shale ashes (OSAs) of pulverised firing (PF) and circulating fluidised-bed (CFB) boilers from Estonian Thermal Power Plant (Estonia) as well as from mortars and concrete based on OSAs. The target substances were 16 PAHs from the EPA priority pollutant list. OSA samples and OSA-based mortars were tested for leaching, according to European standard EN 12457-2 (2002). European standard CEN/TC 15862(2012) for monolithic matter was used for OSA-based concrete. Water extracts were analysed by GC–MS for the concentration of PAHs. Naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were detected. Still, the release of PAHs was below the threshold limit value for inert waste. The amount of the finest fraction (particle size <0.045 mm), the content of the Al–Si glass phase and the surface characteristics were the main factors, which could affect the accessibility of PAHs for leaching. The mobility of PAHs from OSA of CFB and PF boilers was 20.2 and 9.9 %, respectively. Hardening of OSA-based materials did not lead to the immobilisation of soluble PAHs. Release of PAHs from the monolith samples did not exceed 0.5 μg/m2. In terms of leaching of PAHs, OSA is safe to be used for construction purposes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Estonian Research Council Targeted Financing Projects SF0140082s08, Institutional research funding IUT23-5 of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and Archimedes project 3.2.0501. 10.0002. The authors thank MSc E. Piirisalu and MSc. P. Kallaste for the help and Mrs P. Laas for the technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia

    Natalya Irha, Janek Reinik & Jekaterina Jefimova

  2. Laboratory of Inorganic Materials, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia

    Arina Koroljova, Mai Uibu & Rein Kuusik

  3. Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411, Tartu, Estonia

    Jekaterina Jefimova

  4. Department of Building Production, Laboratory of Building Materials, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia

    Lembi-Merike Raado & Tiina Hain

  5. Eesti Energia AS, Laki 24, 12915, Tallinn, Estonia

    Arina Koroljova

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  1. Natalya Irha
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Correspondence to Natalya Irha.

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Irha, N., Reinik, J., Jefimova, J. et al. PAHs in leachates from thermal power plant wastes and ash-based construction materials. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 11877–11889 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4459-x

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