title: Removal of heavy metals and arsenic from a co-contaminated soil by sieving combined with washing process.
abstract: Batch experiments were conducted with a heavy metals and arsenic co-contaminated soil from an abandoned mine to evaluate the feasibility of a remediation technology that combines sieving with soil washing. Leaching of the arsenic and heavy metals from the different particle size fractions was found to decrease in the order: <0.1, 2-0.1, and >2mm. With increased contact time, the concentration of heavy metals in the leachate was significantly decreased for small particles, probably because of adsorption by the clay soil component. For the different particle sizes, the removal efficiencies for Pb and Cd were 75%-87%, and 61%-77% for Zn and Cu, although the extent of removal was decreased for As and Cr at <45%. The highest efficiency by washing for Pb, Cd, Zn, and As was from the soil particles >2mm, although good metal removal efficiencies were also achieved in the small particle size fractions. Through SEM-EDS observations and correlation analysis, the leaching regularity of the heavy metals and arsenic was found to be closely related to Fe, Mn, and Ca contents of the soil fractions. The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil by sieving combined with soil washing was proven to be efficient, and practical remediation parameters were also recommended.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: Liaoxy@igsnrr.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: Yanxl@igsnrr.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xiulan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Heavy metals; Remediation; Separation; Soil; Washing