Mercury leaching characteristics of waste treatment residues generated from various sources in Korea

In this study, mercury (Hg) leaching characteristics of the waste treatment residues (fly ash, bottom ash, sludge, and phosphor powder) generated from various sources (municipal, industrial, medical waste incinerators, sewage sludge incinerator, oil refinery, coal-fired power plant, steel manufacturing plant, fluorescent lamp recycler, and cement kiln) in Korea were investigated. First, both Hg content analysis and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) testing was conducted for 31 collected residue samples. The Hg content analysis showed that fly ash from waste incinerators contained more Hg than the other residue samples. However, the TCLP values of fly ash samples with similar Hg content varied widely based on the residue type. Fly ash samples with low and high Hg leaching ratios (R_L) were further analyzed to identify the major factors that influence the Hg leaching potential. Buffering capacity of the low-R_L fly ash was higher than that of the high-R_L fly ash. The Hg speciation results suggest that the low-R_L fly ashes consisted primarily of low-solubility Hg compounds (Hg₂Cl₂, Hg⁰ or HgS), whereas the high-R_L fly ashes contain more than 20% high-solubility Hg compounds (HgCl₂ or HgSO₄).     

The characterization of total and leachable metals in foundry molding sands

Waste molding sands from the foundry industry have been successfully used as a component in manufactured soils, but concern over metal contamination must be addressed before many states will consider this beneficial use. Since there is little data available on this topic, the purpose of this study was to characterize total and leachable metals from waste molding sands. A total elemental analysis for Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn was conducted on 36 clay-bonded and seven chemically bonded molding sands. Total metal concentrations in the molding sands were similar to those found in agricultural soils. The leaching of metals (i.e. Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) was assessed via the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP), and ASTM water leach test. Based on the TCLP data, none of the 43 molding sands would meet the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) characteristic for toxicity due to high Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, and Pb. Compared to the TCLP results, the metal concentrations were generally lower in the SPLP and ASTM extracts, which is likely related to the buffering capacity of the extraction fluids.     

Total arsenic and selenium analysis in Marcellus shale, high-salinity water, and hydrofracture flowback wastewater

Trace levels of arsenic and selenium can be toxic to living organisms yet their quantitation in high ionic strength or high salinity aqueous media is difficult due to the matrix interferences which can either suppress or enhance the analyte signal. A modified thiol cotton fiber (TCF) method employing lower flow rates and centrifugation has been used to remove the analyte from complex aqueous media and minimize the matrix interferences. This method has been tested using a USGS (SGR-1b) certified reference shale. It has been used to analyze Marcellus shale samples following microwave digestion as well as spiked samples of high salinity water (HSW) and flow back wastewater (WRF6) obtained from an actual gas well drilling operation. Quantitation of arsenic and selenium is carried out by graphite furnace atomic spectroscopy (GFAAS). Extraction of arsenic and selenium from Marcellus shale exposed to HSW and WRF6 for varying lengths of time is also reported.     

Oxygen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) in urban soils of Bratislava, Slovakia: patterns, relation to PAHs and vertical distribution

We determined concentrations, sources, and vertical distribution of OPAHs and PAHs in soils of Bratislava. The ∑14 OPAHs concentrations in surface soil horizons ranged 88-2692 ng g⁻¹ and those of ∑34 PAHs 842-244,870 ng g⁻¹. The concentrations of the ∑9 carbonyl-OPAHs (r = 0.92, p = 0.0001) and the ∑5 hydroxyl-OPAHs (r = 0.73, p = 0.01) correlated significantly with ∑34 PAHs concentrations indicating the close association of OPAHs with parent-PAHs. OPAHs were quantitatively dominated by 9-fluorenone, 9,10-anthraquinone, 1-indanone and benzo[a]anthracene-7,12-dione. At several sites, individual carbonyl-OPAHs had higher concentrations than parent PAHs. The concentration ratios of several OPAHs to their parent-PAHs and contribution of the more soluble OPAHs (1-indanone and 9-fluorenone) to ∑14 OPAHs concentrations increased with soil depth suggesting that OPAHs were faster vertically transported in the study soils by leaching than PAHs which was supported by the correlation of subsoil:surface soil ratios of OPAH concentrations at several sites with K_OW.     

Long-term mercury dynamics in UK soils

A model assuming first-order losses by evasion and leaching was used to evaluate Hg dynamics in UK soils since 1850. Temporal deposition patterns of Hg were constructed from literature information. Inverse modelling indicated that 30% of 898 rural sites receive Hg only from the global circulation, while in 51% of cases local deposition exceeds global. Average estimated deposition is 16 μg Hg m⁻² a⁻¹ to rural soils, 19 μg Hg m⁻² a⁻¹ to rural and non-rural soils combined. UK soils currently hold 2490 tonnes of reactive Hg, of which 2140 tonnes are due to anthropogenic deposition, mostly local in origin. Topsoil currently releases 5.1 tonnes of Hg⁰ per annum to the atmosphere, about 50% more than the anthropogenic flux. Sorptive retention of Hg in the lower soil exerts a strong control on surface water Hg concentrations. Following decreases in inputs, soil Hg concentrations are predicted to decline over hundreds of years.     

Metal stabilization mechanism of incorporating lead-bearing sludge in kaolinite-based ceramics

The feasibility and mechanism of incorporating simulated lead-laden sludge into low-cost ceramic products was investigated by observing the reaction of lead with two kaolinite-based precursors under sintering conditions. To investigate the phase transformation process of lead, lead oxide (PbO) mixed with a kaolinite or mullite precursor were fired at 500-950 °C for 3 h. Detailed X-ray diffraction analysis of sintered products revealed that both precursors had crystallochemically incorporated lead into the lead feldspar (PbAl₂Si₂O₈) crystalline structure. By mixing lead oxide with kaolinite, lead feldspar begins to crystallize at 700 °C; maximum incorporation of lead into this structure occurred at 950 °C. However, two intermediate phases, Pb₄Al₄Si₃O₁₆ and a polymorph of lead feldspar, were detected at temperatures between 700 and 900 °C. By sintering lead oxide with the mullite precursor, lead feldspar was detected at temperatures above 750 °C, and an intermediate phase of Pb₄Al₄Si₃O₁₆ was observed in the temperature range of 750-900 °C. This study compared the lead leachabilities of PbO and lead feldspar using a prolonged leaching test (at pH 2.9 for 23 d) modified from the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. The results indicate the superiority of lead feldspar in stabilizing lead and suggest a promising and reliable strategy to stabilize lead in ceramic products.     

钡渣中钡离子的淋溶释放规律

采用静态浸渣正交实验和动态淋溶实验 ,研究了钡渣中钡离子的淋溶释放规律。结果表明 ,在 p H为 5 .6、固液比 1∶ 7、浸取时间 60 min时 ,静态最大浸出率达到 92 .8% ,Ba2 + 的浸出浓度为 42 680 mg/L。动态淋溶释放规律 :淋溶初期当液固比 x<5时呈二次多项式 ,x >5后符合指数衰减模型 C=C0 ·Ψ· e- bx ,p H为 2 .6、5 .6时的模拟雨水下最大 Ba2 +淋溶浓度分别出现在 x为4.0、3 .76处。     

Monitoring heavy metal concentrations in leachates from a forest soil subjected to repeated applications of sewage sludge

The aim of the study was to establish whether the repeated application of sewage sludge to an acid forest soil (Dystric Cambisol) would lead to short-term groundwater contamination. Sludge was applied at four loading rates (0, 2.4, 17 and 60 Mg ha⁻¹) in two consecutive years and leachates were analysed. Heavy metal inputs to soils at the lowest dose were below EC regulations but, at higher doses, limits for Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni were exceeded. Repeated application of sludge at 60 Mg ha⁻¹ resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni in the leachates than with other treatments. The drinking water standards for Cd and Ni were surpassed in all treatments. Control plots were contaminated by groundwater flow despite the existence of buffer zones between plots. This complicated interpretation of the results, highlighting the importance of careful design of this type of experiment.     

Macro-porosity and leaching of atrazine in tilled and orchard loamy soils

Atrazine is the most commonly detected herbicide in the groundwater. Leaching of atrazine largely depends on soil management practices. The aim of this study was to examine leaching of atrazine in tilled and orchard silty loam soils. The experimental objects included: conventionally tilled field (CT) with main tillage operations including pre-plow (10 cm) + harrowing, mouldboard ploughing (20 cm), and a 35 year-old apple orchard (OR) with a permanent sward. To determine leaching of atrazine soil columns of undisturbed structure were taken with steel cylinders of 21.5 cm diameter and 20 cm high from the depth of 0–20 cm. All columns were equilibrated at water content corresponding to field capacity (0.21 kg kg⁻¹). Atrazine suspended in distilled water was dripped uniformly onto the surface of each column. Then water was infiltrated and breakthrough times of leachates were recorded. Atrazine concentration in the leachates was determined by means of HPLC Waters. Macro-porosity and percolation rate were higher in OR than CT soil. Cumulative recovery % of the atrazine applied was 1.267% for OR and approximately one third more from the CT soil but the rate of leaching (per unit of time) was greater from the OR soil. The lower leaching under OR than CT can be due to a greater SOM and the presence of earthworm burrows with organic burrow linings that could adsorb atrazine and contribute to preferential flow allowing solutes to bypass parts whereas the greater rate of leaching due to a greater infiltration rate.The results indicate potential of management practices for minimizing atrazine leaching.     

Persistence of C-labeled atrazine and its residues in a field lysimeter soil after 22 years

Twenty-two years after the last application of ring-¹⁴C-labeled atrazine at customary rate (1.7 kg ha⁻¹) on an agriculturally used outdoor lysimeter, atrazine is still detectable by means of accelerated solvent extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis. Extractions of the 0-10 cm soil layer yielded 60% of the residual ¹⁴C-activity. The extracts contained atrazine (1.0 μg kg⁻¹) and 2-hydroxy-atrazine (42.5 μg kg⁻¹). Extractions of the material of the lowest layer 55-60 cm consisting of fine gravel yielded 93% of residual ¹⁴C-activity, of which 3.4 μg kg⁻¹ was detected as atrazine and 17.7 μg kg⁻¹ was 2-hydroxy-atrazine. The detection of atrazine in the lowest layer was of almost four times higher mass than in the upper soil layer. These findings highlight the fact that atrazine is unexpectedly persistent in soil. The overall persistence of atrazine in the environment might represent a potential risk for successive groundwater contamination by leaching even after 22 years of environmental exposure.