Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immobilization of Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ during geopolymerization

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present research explored the application of geopolymerization for the immobilization and solidification of heavy metal added into metakaolinte. The compressive strength of geopolymers was controlled by the dosage of heavy metal cations, and geopolymers have a toleration limit for heavy metals. The influence of alkaline activator dosage and type on the heavy metal ion immobilization efficiency of metakaolinte-based geopolymer was investigated. A geopolymer with the highest heavy metal immobilization efficiency was identified to occur at an intermediate Na2SiO3 dosage and the metal immobilization efficiency showed an orderly increase with the increasing Na+ dosage. Geopolymers with and without heavy metals were analyzed by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. No crystalline phase containing heavy metals was detected in geopolymers with heavy metal, suggesting that the crystalline phase containing heavy metals is not produced or most of the phases incorporating heavy metals are amorphous. FTIR spectroscopy showed that, with increasing heavy metal addition, an increase in NO −3 peak intensity was observed, which was accompanied by a decrease in the CO 2−3 peak.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Davidovits J. Geopolymers: inorganic polymeric new materials. Journal of Thermal Analysis, 1991, 37(8): 1633–1656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kamel A Z, Mohammad S. Al-Harahsheh, Falah B H. Fly ash-based geopolymer for Pb removal from aqueous solution. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2011, 188(1–3): 414–421

    Google Scholar 

  3. Yunsheng Z, Wei S, Qianli C, Lin C. Synthesis and heavy metal immobilization behaviors of slag based geopolymer. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 143(1–2): 206–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. van Deventer J S J, Provis J L, Duxson P, Lukey G C. Reaction mechanisms in the geopolymeric conversion of inorganic waste to useful products. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 139(3): 506–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang J, Provis J L, Feng D, van Deventer J S J. Geopolymers for immobilization of Cr6+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2008, 157(2–3): 587–598

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Phair J W, Van Deventer J S J. Effect of silicate activator pH on the leaching and material characteristics of waste-based inorganic polymers. Minerals Engineering, 2001, 14(3): 289–304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bankowski P, Zou L, Hodges R. Using inorganic polymer to reduce leach rates of metals from brown coal fly ash. Minerals Engineering, 2004, 17(2): 159–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. van Jaarsveld J G S, Van Deventer J S J. Effect of the alkali metal activator on the properties of fly ash-based geopolymers. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 1999, 38(10): 3929–3941

    Google Scholar 

  9. Buchwald A, Zellmann H D, Kap Ch. Condensation of aluminosilicate gels-model system for geopolymer binders. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2011, 357(5): 1376–1382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Villa C, Pecina E T, Torres R, Gómez L. Geopolymer synthesis using alkaline activation of natural zeolite. Construction & Building Materials, 2010, 24(11): 2084–2090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Pandey B, Kinrade S D, Catalan L J J. Effects of carbonation on the leachability and compressive strength of cement-solidified and geopolymer-solidified synthetic metal wastes. Journal of Environmental Management, 2012, 101: 59–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Xu J Z, Zhou Y L, Chang Q, Qu H Q. Study on the factors of affecting the immobilization of heavy metals in fly ash-based geopolymers. Materials Letters, 2006, 60(6): 820–822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Poon S, Lio K W. The limitation of the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure for evaluation cement-based stabilized/solidified waste forms. Waste Management (New York), 1997, 17(1): 15–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang W, Zheng L, Wang F, Wan X, Yin K Q, Gao X B. Release of Elements from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering in China, 2010, 4(4): 482–489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. van Jaarsveld J G S, van Deventer J S J, Lukey G C. The effect of composition and temperature on the properties of fly ash- and kaolinite-based geopolymers. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2002, 89(1–3): 63–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Xiao Y, Lasaga A C. Ab initio quantum mechanical studies of the kinetics and mechanisms of silicate dissolution: H+ (H3O+) catalysis. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1994, 58(24): 5379–5400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zheng L, Wang W, Shi Y. The effects of alkaline dosage and Si/Al ratio on the immobilization of heavy metals in municipal solid waste incineration fly ash-based geopolymer. Chemosphere, 2010, 79(6): 665–671

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Duxson P, Provis J L, Lukey G C, Mallicoat SW, Kriven WM, van Deventer J S J. Understanding the relationship between geopolymer composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2005, 269(1–3): 47–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Phair J W, van Deventer J S J. Effect of the silicate activator pH on the microstructura characteristics of waste-based geopolymers. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2002, 66(1–4): 121–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Zheng L, Wang C, Wang W, Shi Y, Gao X. Immobilization of MSWI fly ash through geopolymerization: effects of water-wash. Waste Management, 2011, 31: 311–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Theo Kloprogge J, Wharton D, Hickey L, Frost R L. Infrared and raman study of interlayer anions CO 2−3 , NO −3 , 2−4 and ClO −4 in Mg/Al-hydrotalcite. American Mineralogist, 2002, 87: 623–629

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Lei Zheng, Wei Wang, Yunchun Shi & Xiao Liu

  2. College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    Wei Qiao

Authors
  1. Lei Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yunchun Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lei Zheng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zheng, L., Wang, W., Qiao, W. et al. Immobilization of Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ during geopolymerization. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 9, 642–648 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-014-0707-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-014-0707-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation