Abstract
Purpose
Soil contamination and solid waste accumulation pose significant risks to the safety of agricultural produce and residential areas. In China, coal gangue, a typical form of solid waste, is rich in valuable elements like silicon and aluminum, making it an ideal precursor for the synthesis of zeolite molecular sieves. This study focuses on transforming coal gangue into iron-enhanced X-type zeolite (Fe-NaX) molecular sieve and explores its potential in remediating lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) co-contaminated soil.
Methods
Fe-NaX was synthesized from coal gangue in Sichuan using an alkaline melting hydrothermal method. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of Fe-NaX in remediation and assess its ecological risk, soil culture and acid rain leaching experiments were conducted. The microstructures of Fe-NaX were detected to explore its remediation mechanism.
Results
The optimal Fe-NaX was synthesized at a 110 °C hydrothermal reaction temperature, a 1.5 mass ratio of NaOH and pretreated coal gangue (PCG), a 2.0 Si/Al molar ratio, and a 3.5 M alkalinity. Fe-NaX demonstrated outstanding performance in remediating Pb and Cd contaminated soil, with immobilizing efficiency for high bioavailability fractions of Pb and Cd at 44.4% and 21.9%, respectively. Even under acid rain stress, Fe-NaX was able to decrease the release of Pb and Cd in the soil by 42.3% and 59.6% respectively, with minimal ecological risk.
Conclusion
This study, based on a “solid waste for soil-remediation” strategy, transforms coal gangue into Fe-NaX for use in soil remediation and holds great promise for the contaminated soil remediation and coal gangue comprehensive utilization.
Graphical abstract
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Data availability
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Raw data were collected under environmental conditions that do not require ethical approval or legal restrictions on sharing. Additional derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Jiang Yu, at yjuj@scu.edu.cn, upon reasonable request.
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Funding
The research was supported by the grants including the National Key Research and Development Program (No. 2018YFC1802605), the Sichuan Regional Innovation Cooperation Project (No. 2022YFQ0081), the Chengdu Key R&D Support Plan Project (No. 2022-YF05-00357-SN), and the Sichuan University-Yibin City School and City Strategic Cooperation Project (No. 2020CDYB-9).
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Highlights
• Iron-enhanced X-type zeolite (Fe-NaX) was successfully synthesized using coal gangue for Pb and Cd soil remediation.
• Fe-NaX reduced the bioavailability of Pb and Cd in soil.
• Fe-NaX enhanced the stability of Cd and Pb in soil under acid rain conditions.
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Deng, S., Yu, J., Huangfu, Z. et al. Iron-enhanced X-type zeolite made by coal gangue for Pb/Cd-contaminated soil remediation. J Soils Sediments (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-024-03795-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-024-03795-w