Safe immobilization of Cr(III) in heat-treated zeolite tuff compacts.
The possibility to remove chromium ions from a simulated electroplating wastewater by a discontinuous ion-exchange process based on phillipsite-rich Neapolitan yellow tuff (NYT) has been investigated. The immobilization of the pollutant cation in the resulting sludge through a heat-treatment has been realized, demonstrating that compacts made of Cr-loaded NYT powder, fired at temperatures of 1000 degrees C or over, are safe materials with negligible Cr3+ leaching. The set up overall process allows, in addition, a volume reduction of the waste with associated lower disposal costs or, better, the obtainment of a ceramic material, whose physical and mechanical properties are comparable to those of similar ordinary ceramics, such as bricks. In summary, the proposed strategy looks at the polluted sludge as a resource to be exploited, instead of a dangerous material to safely dispose of.
Liguori
Barbara
B
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e della Produzione, Università Federico II, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy.
Cassese
Antonio
A
Colella
Carmine
C
D002412:Cations / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002857:Chromium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017641:Zeolites
D002412:Cations; D002857:Chromium; C061947:phillipsite; D017641:Zeolites