Heap leaching of Pb and Zn contaminated soil using ozone/UV treatment of EDTA extractants.
The feasibility of a novel EDTA-based soil heap leaching method with treatment and reuse of extractants in a closed process loop was evaluated on a laboratory scale. Ozone and UV irradiation were used for oxidative decomposition of EDTA-metal complexes in extractants from Pb (1243 mg kg(-1)) and Zn (1190 mg kg(-1)) contaminated soil. Released metals were absorbed in a commercial metal absorbent Slovakite. Six-consecutive additions of 2.5 mmol kg(-1) EDTA (total 15 mmol kg(-1) EDTA) removed 49.6 +/- 0.6% and 19.7 +/- 1.7% of initial total Pb and Zn from soil (4.6 kg) packed in 22 cm high columns. The efficiency of extraction was similar to small-scale simulations of heap leaching (15 0 g of soil), where EDTA used in the same manner removed 49.7 +/- 1.0% and 13.7 +/- 0.4% of Pb and Zn. The new heap leaching method produced discharge extractant with fairly low final concentrations of Pb, Zn and EDTA (1.98 +/- 2.17 mg l(-1), 4.55 +/- 2.36 mg l(-1), and 0.05 +/- 0.04 mM, respectively), which could presumably be reduced even further with continuation of treatment. The results of our study indicate that for soils contaminated primarily with Pb, treating the EDTA extractants with ozone/UV and reuse of extractants enables efficient soil heap leaching with very little or no wastewater generation, easy control over emissions, and lowers the requirements for process water.
Finzgar
Neza
N
Agronomy Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Lestan
Domen
D
D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008669:Metallurgy; D010126:Ozone / Q000737:chemistry*; D017524:Slovenia; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000528:radiation effects
D002614:Chelating Agents; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; D010126:Ozone; D004492:Edetic Acid; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium