title: Rapid-extraction oxidation process to recover and reuse copper chromium and arsenic from industrial wood preservative sludge.
abstract: Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) wood preservative can form insoluble sludges when the hexavalent chromium component is reduced by wood extractives, wood particles and preservative additives in the solution. This sludge accumulates in treating solution work tanks, sumps and in-line filters and must be disposed of as hazardous wastes by waste disposal companies at high costs. A number of commercial sludges were investigated and found to contain 18-94% copper, chromium and arsenic as oxides combined with sand, oil, wood particles, additives and wood extractives. We have developed a multi-stage recycling process whereby approximately 97% of the CCA components are recovered from the sludge. It involves extraction with sodium hypochlorite to remove and oxidize chromium (more than 90%) and extract most of the arsenic (approx. 80%) followed by extraction of the copper and remaining arsenic and chromium with phosphoric acid. The phosphoric acid extract contains some trivalent chromium, which is subsequently oxidized by sodium hypochlorite. The combined oxidized extract containing CrVI, CuII and AsV was compatible with CCA treating solutions and could be re-used commercially for treating wood without having a significant effect on the preservative fixation rate or the leach resistance of the treated wood. A cost analysis showed that the economic savings from recovery of CCA chemicals and reduced landfill costs exceeded the variable costs for materials and energy for the process by as much as Can $966 per tonne of sludge if sodium sulfite can be acquired in bulk quantities for the process.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: F K M
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D001149:Arsenates / Q000737:chemistry*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D001149:Arsenates; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D007220:Industrial Waste; C040890:chromated copper arsenate; D003300:Copper