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Arsenic and copper stabilisation in a contaminated soil by coal fly ash and green waste compost

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Abstract

In situ metal stabilisation by amendments has been demonstrated as an appealing low-cost remediation strategy for contaminated soil. This study investigated the short-term leaching behaviour and long-term stability of As and Cu in soil amended with coal fly ash and/or green waste compost. Locally abundant inorganic (limestone and bentonite) and carbonaceous (lignite) resources were also studied for comparison. Column leaching experiments revealed that coal fly ash outperformed limestone and bentonite amendments for As stabilisation. It also maintained the As stability under continuous leaching of acidic solution, which was potentially attributed to high-affinity adsorption, co-precipitation, and pozzolanic reaction of coal fly ash. However, Cu leaching in the column experiments could not be mitigated by any of these inorganic amendments, suggesting the need for co-addition of carbonaceous materials that provides strong chelation with oxygen-containing functional groups for Cu stabilisation. Green waste compost suppressed the Cu leaching more effectively than lignite due to the difference in chemical composition and dissolved organic matter. After 9-month soil incubation, coal fly ash was able to minimise the concentrations of As and Cu in the soil solution without the addition of carbonaceous materials. Nevertheless, leachability tests suggested that the provision of green waste compost and lignite augmented the simultaneous reduction of As and Cu leachability in a fairly aggressive leaching environment. These results highlight the importance of assessing stability and remobilisation of sequestered metals under varying environmental conditions for ensuring a plausible and enduring soil stabilisation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the financial support from the Brian Mason Scientific & Technical Trust (New Zealand) and the provision of field soil sample from Golder Associates (New Zealand) Ltd for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    Daniel C. W. Tsang & William E. Olds

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Daniel C. W. Tsang

  3. Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    Alex C. K. Yip

  4. Solid Energy New Zealand, Private Bag 1303, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    William E. Olds & Paul A. Weber

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  1. Daniel C. W. Tsang
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  2. Alex C. K. Yip
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  3. William E. Olds
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  4. Paul A. Weber
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Correspondence to Daniel C. W. Tsang.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Tsang, D.C.W., Yip, A.C.K., Olds, W.E. et al. Arsenic and copper stabilisation in a contaminated soil by coal fly ash and green waste compost. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 10194–10204 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3032-3

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