Authors: Tran Thi Thu Dung Asefeh Golreihan Elvira Vassilieva Nguyen Ky Phung Valérie Cappuyns Rudy Swennen
Publish Date: 2014/08/31
Volume: 22, Issue: 3, Pages: 2205-2218
Abstract
This study investigates the solid phase characteristics and release of heavy metals ie Cd Co Cu Cr Mo Ni Pb and Zn and arsenic As from sludge samples derived from industrial wastewater treatment plants The emphasis is determining the influence of acidification on element mobilization based on a multidisciplinary approach that combines cascade and pHstat leaching tests with solid phase characterization through Xray diffraction XRD field emission gun electron probe micro analysis FEGEPMA and thermodynamic modeling Visual MinteQ 30 Solid phase characterization and thermodynamic modeling results allow prediction of Ni and Zn leachabilities FEGEPMA is useful for direct solid phase characterization because it provides information on additional phases including specific element associations that cannot be detected by XRD analysis Cascade and pHstat leaching test results indicate that disposal of improperly treated sludges at landfills may lead to extreme environmental risks due to high leachable concentrations of Zn Ni Cu Cr and Pb However high leachabilities under acid conditions of Ni and Zn as observed from pHstat leaching test results may provide a potential opportunity for acid extraction recovery of Ni and Zn from such sludgesWe acknowledge members of Geology Division Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences KU Leuven for their support In particular we would like to thank Prof Sarah Fowler for her correction of English language Herman Nijs for his help with thin section preparation and Rieko Adriaens for discussion regarding XRD We also thank personnel at wastewater treatment plants for providing samples This research was supported by the Belgian Technical Cooperation BTC
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