Novel synergy of Si-rich minerals and reactive MgO for stabilisation/solidification of contaminated sediment

Ex Situ Stabilization/Solidification Approaches of Marine Sediments Using Green Cement Admixtures

The routine dredging of waterways produces huge volumes of sediments. Handling contaminated dredged sediments poses significant and diverse challenges around the world. In recent years, novel and sustainable ex situ remediation technologies for contaminated sediments have been developed and applied. This review article focuses on cement-based binders in stabilizing contaminants through the stabilization/solidification (S/S) technique and the utilization of contaminated sediments as a resource. Through S/S techniques, heavy metals can be solidified and stabilized in dense and durable solid matrices, reducing their permeability and restricting their release into the environment. Industrial by-products like red mud (RM), soda residue (SR), pulverized fly ash (PFA), and alkaline granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) can immobilize heavy metal ions such as lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, and chromium by precipitation. However, in a strong alkali environment, certain heavy metal ions might dissolve again. To address this, immobilization in low pH media can be achieved using materials like GGBS, metakaolin (MK), and incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA). Additionally, heavy metals can be also immobilized through the formation of silicate gels and ettringites during pozzolanic reactions by mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchanges, and encapsulation. It is foreseeable that, in the future, the scientific community will increasingly turn towards multidisciplinary studies on novel materials, also after an evaluation of the effects on long-term heavy metal stabilization.

Synergistic interactions and reaction mechanisms of biochar surface functionalities in antibiotics removal from industrial wastewater

Biochar, a carbon-rich material with a unique surface chemistry (high abundance of surface functional groups, large surface area, and well-distributed), has shown great potential as a sustainable solution for industrial wastewater treatment as compared to conventional industrial wastewater treatment techniques demand substantial energy consumption and generate detrimental byproducts. This critical review emphasizes the surface functionalities formation and development in biochar to enhance its physiochemical properties, for utilization in antibiotics removal. Factors affecting the formation of functionalities, including carbonization processes, feedstock materials, operating parameters, and the influence of pre-post treatments, are thoroughly highlighted to understand the crucial role of factors influencing biochar properties for optimal antibiotics removal. Furthermore, the research explores the removal mechanisms and interactions of biochar-based surface functionalities, hydrogen bonding, encompassing electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, π-π interactions, and electron donor and acceptor interactions, to provide insights into the adsorption/removal behavior of antibiotics on biochar surfaces. The review also explains the mechanism of factors influencing the removal of antibiotics in industrial wastewater treatment, including particle size and pore structure, nature and types of surface functional groups, pH and surface charge, temperature, surface modification strategies, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, biochar dose, pollutant concentration, contact time, and the presence of coexisting ions and other substances. Finally, the study offers reusability and regeneration, challenges and future perspectives on the development of biochar-based adsorbents and their applications in addressing antibiotics. It concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the significance of biochar as a sustainable and effective solution for mitigating antibiotics contamination in industrial wastewater.

Fluorinated Nonporous Adaptive Cages for the Efficient Removal of Perfluorooctanoic Acid from Aqueous Source Phases

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulate in water resources and pose serious environmental and health threats due to their nonbiodegradable nature and long environmental persistence times. Strategies for the efficient removal of PFAS from contaminated water are needed to address this concern. Here, we report a fluorinated nonporous adaptive crystalline cage (F-Cage 2) that exploits electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and F-F interactions to achieve the efficient removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from aqueous source phases. F-Cage 2 exhibits a high second-order kobs value of approximately 441,000 g mg-1 h-1 for PFOA and a maximum PFOA adsorption capacity of 45 mg g-1. F-Cage 2 can decrease PFOA concentrations from 1500 to 6 ng L-1 through three rounds of flow-through purification, conducted at a flow rate of 40 mL h-1. Elimination of PFOA from PFOA-loaded F-Cage 2 is readily achieved by rinsing with a mixture of MeOH and saturated NaCl. Heating at 80 °C under vacuum then makes F-Cage 2 ready for reuse, as demonstrated across five successive uptake and release cycles. This work thus highlights the potential utility of suitably designed nonporous adaptive crystals as platforms for PFAS remediation.

Combined application of strong alkaline materials and specific organic fertilizer accelerates nitrification process of a rare earth mining soil

The extensive usage of ammonium sulfate as the leaching agent to extract rare earth elements led to widespread ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) pollution in the tailing soils of ion-adsorbed rare earth deposits in southern China. However, the cost-effective technologies to tackle with the long-term retention of NH₄⁺-N in the rare earth mining soil have been largely unresolved. In this study, we developed a cost-effective approach to activate soil nitrification by the co-application of alkaline materials and organic fertilizer. The co-application of 0.3 % of organic fertilizer and 0.1 % ∼ 0.2 % of CaO or MgO or Mg(OH)₂ stimulated a soil NH₄⁺-N decrease rate of 2.01-7.58 mg kg^-1 d^-1 and a soil NO₃^--N accumulation rate of 1.56-7.09 mg kg^-1 d^-1. Noting that only if the soil pH was elevated to 7.81-9.00, the NH₄⁺-N decrease rate and NO₃^--N accumulation rate were dependent on the proton consumption capacity of the alkaline materials. The application of CaCO₃ could not stimulate soil nitrification possibly due to the soil pH was uncapable to be elevated to above 7.68. The qPCR, amplicon sequencing, and nitrification inhibitor batch incubation results demonstrated that organic fertilizer supplied active ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas europaea. The proliferation of Nitrosomonas europaea in the alkaline materials and organic fertilizer co-applied soil was responsible for the soil nitrification. Furthermore, the application of commercial denitrifying bacteria inoculum promoted the removal of accumulated NO₃^--N. The findings of this study provide a lost-cost technology to remove NH₄⁺-N from the rare earth mining soil.

Review of the Interactions between Conventional Cementitious Materials and Heavy Metal Ions in Stabilization/Solidification Processing

In the past few decades, solidification/stabilization (S/S) technology has been put forward for the purpose of improving soil strength and inhibiting contaminant migration in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites. Cement, lime, and fly ash are among the most common and effective binders to treat contaminated soils. During S/S processing, the main interactions that are responsible for improving the soil's behaviors can be summarized as gelification, self-hardening, and aggregation. Currently, precipitation, incorporation, and substitution have been commonly accepted as the predominant immobilization mechanisms for heavy metal ions and have been directly verified by some micro-testing techniques. While replacement of Ca²⁺/Si⁴⁺ in the cementitious products and physical encapsulation remain controversial, which is proposed dependent on the indirect results. Lead and zinc can retard both the initial and final setting times of cement hydration, while chromium can accelerate the initial cement hydration. Though cadmium can shorten the initial setting time, further cement hydration will be inhibited. While for mercury, the interference impact is closely associated with its adapted anion. It should be pointed out that obtaining a better understanding of the remediation mechanism involved in S/S processing will contribute to facilitating technical improvement, further extension, and application.

Remediation performance and mechanisms of Cu and Cd contaminated water and soil using Mn/Al-layered double oxide-loaded biochar

The combined pollution of heavy metals is ubiquitous worldwide. Mn/Al-layered double oxide-loaded crab shells biochar (LDO/BC) was prepared, so as to remediate the combined pollution of Cd and Cu in soil and water. The pristine and used LDO/BC were characterized and the results revealed that the layered double oxide was successfully loaded on crab shells biochar (BC) and metal element Ca in crab shells was beneficial to the formation of more regular layered and flake structure. The maximal adsorption capacity (Q_m) of LDO/BC for aqueous Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ was 66.23 and 73.47 mg/g, respectively. LDO/BC and BC were used to remediate e-waste-contaminated soil for the first time and exhibited highly efficient performance. The extraction amount of Cu and Cd in the contaminated soil by diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) after treating with 5% LDO/BC was significantly reduced from 819.84 to 205.95 mg/kg (with passivation rate 74.8%) and 8.46 to 4.16 mg/kg (with passivation rate 50.8%), respectively, inferring that the bioavailability of heavy metals declined remarkably. The experimental result also suggested that after remediation by LDO/BC the exchangeable and weak acid soluble Cu and Cd in soil translated to reducible, residual and oxidizable fraction which are more stable state. Precipitation, complexation and ion exchange were proposed as the possible mechanisms for Cd and Cu removal. In general, these experiment results indicate that LDO/BC can be a potentially effective reagent for remediation of heavy metal contaminated water and soil.

Possibility of Using Waste Materials as Substitutes for Gravel or Water in Concrete Mix

Analyzing the global waste management sector, we can see that some waste, due to its specificity, is a major challenge when it comes to its management. This group includes rubber waste and sewage sludge. Both items pose a major threat to the environment and human health. The remedy for this problem may be the solidification process, in which the presented wastes are used as substrates in the production of concrete. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of waste addition to cement in the form of an active additive (sewage sludge) and a passive additive (rubber granulate). An unusual approach to sewage sludge was used, which was introduced as a substitute for water, and not, as in most works, sewage sludge ash. In the case of the second waste, commonly used tire granules were replaced with rubber particles resulting from the fragmentation of conveyor belts. A wide range of the share of additives in the cement mortar was analyzed. The results for the rubber granulate were consistent with numerous publications. For the addition in the form of hydrated sewage sludge, the deterioration of the mechanical properties of concrete was demonstrated. It was found that the flexural strength of the concrete in which water was replaced with hydrated sewage sludge was lower than that of the sample without the addition of sludge. The compressive strength of concrete with the addition of rubber granules was higher than the control sample and did not significantly depend on the amount of granulate used.

Impact of H2O on the Microscopic Oxidation Mechanism of Lollingite: Experimental and Theoretical Analyses

Lollingite (FeAs2) is considered an arsenic-bearing mineral that is oxidized faster than arsenopyrite. The geometric configuration, chemical valence bond, and microscopic reaction of the oxidation on the surface of lollingite were systematically studied, which are of great significance for understanding the mechanism of oxidative dissolution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to characterize the (101) surface oxidation process of lollingite under the O2/O2 + H2O conditions. XPS results confirmed that the participation of water molecules can promote the formation of abundant OH structures on the surface of lollingite, while the relative concentration of O, As(III), and Fe(III) increased. Moreover, the DFT results demonstrated that the (101) As-terminal plane of FeAs2 was the most stable surface with the lowest surface energy. H2O molecules were physically adsorbed onto the Fe atoms of the lollingite surface, while oxygen molecules can readily be adsorbed on the Fe-As2 site by chemical adsorption processes. The oxidation process of the lollingite surface with water includes the following mechanisms: adsorption, dissociation, formation of the hydrogen bond, and desorption. The dissociation of the H2O molecule into OH and H led to the hydroxylation of both Fe and As atoms and the formation of hydrogen bonding. The participation of H2O molecules can also reduce the reaction energy barrier and accelerate the oxidation reaction of the lollingite surface, especially as far as the water dissociation and formation of hydrogen bonds are concerned. According to PDOS data, there is considerable hybridization between the d orbitals of bonded Fe atoms and the p orbitals of O atoms, as well as between the p orbitals of bonded As atoms and the p orbitals of O atoms. Due to a strong propensity for orbital hybridization and bonding between the s orbitals of the H atoms in H2O molecules and the p orbitals of the O atoms on the (101) surface, water molecules have the ability to speed up the oxidation on the surface.

Mechanical, water resistance and environmental benefits of magnesium oxychloride cement incorporating rice husk ash

Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) has received extensive attention as an eco-friendly cement, but its poor water resistance limits its engineering applications. In this study, MOC mixture (MOCM) was modified with 10-50 % rice husk ash (RHA) (wt% of MgO), and the development of their fresh properties, mechanical strength and microstructure was investigated. The results show that the incorporation of RHA to MOCM increases the setting time of the mixture and reduces its flowability. Due to the fine particle size and high reactivity of RHA, the incorporation of an appropriate amount of RHA to MOCM improves the matrix compactness, thereby enhancing the compressive strength of the samples. Although the microstructure of MOCM deteriorates and the strength decreases after immersion in water, the strength retention coefficient of MOCM with 50 % RHA increases by 24.57 % compared with that of plain MOCM. The incorporation of RHA not only reduces the relative content of magnesium oxide in MOCM, but also generates Mg-Cl-Si-H gel, which is beneficial to improve the water resistance of MOCM. Meanwhile, with the increase of RHA content, the carbon emission of MOCM also decreases. Compared with other modification methods, RHA-modified MOCM performs better in terms of water resistance, environmental benefits and strength enhancement.

Effective separation and recovery of Zn, Cu, and Cr from electroplating sludge based on differential phase transformation induced by chlorinating roasting

Heavy metals in electroplating sludge (ES) are usually amorphous and easily released in the environment. Especially for the ES containing multiple heavy metals, owing to the complex composition and lack of effective disposal method, it has been storage for a long time. In order to avoid environmental pollution, effective treatment methods are very urgent and necessary. Here, chlorinating roasting method was developed to enlarge the phase difference of heavy metals to fulfill the utilization of ES containing multiple heavy metals (Zn, Cr, and Cu). When CaCl₂ was used as additive, Zn and Cu were volatilized to the gas phase, while Cr was oxidized to Cr(V)/(VI) and retained in the solid phase with readily leachable state. The recovery percentage of Zn, Cu, and Cr can reach 99%, 98%, and 96% respectively by chlorinating roasting for 4 h at 1000 °C with the CaCl₂ addition proportion of 100%. After further extraction and purification, the purity of Cr and Zn can reach 92% and 99% respectively. Moreover, the mechanism of the differential phase transformation induced by chlorinating roasting was analyzed by the method of thermodynamics and kinetics. The kinetic reaction equation of the ZnCl₂ and CuCl₂ volatilization process can be described by phase boundary reaction and the function is G(α) = 1-(1-α)^1/3. This work provides a simple and effective method for the treatment of ES containing multiple heavy metals.

Study on Solidification and Stabilization of Antimony-Containing Tailings with Metallurgical Slag-Based Binders

Blast furnace slag (BFS), steel slag (SS), and flue gas desulfurized gypsum (FGDG) were used to prepare metallurgical slag-based binder (MSB), which was afterwards mixed with high-antimony-containing mine tailings to form green mining fill samples (MBTs) for Sb solidification/stabilization (S/S). Results showed that all MBT samples met the requirement for mining backfills. In particular, the unconfined compressive strength of MBTs increased with the curing time, exceeding that of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Moreover, MBTs exhibited the better antimony solidifying properties, and their immobilization efficiency could reach 99%, as compared to that of OPC. KSb(OH)₆ was used to prepare pure MSB paste for solidifying mechanism analysis. Characteristics of metallurgical slag-based binder (MSB) solidified/stabilized antimony (Sb) were investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). According to the results, the main hydration products of MSB were C-S-H gel and ettringite. Among them, C-S-H gel had an obvious adsorption and physical sealing effect on Sb, and the incorporation of Sb would reduce the degree of C-S-H gel polymerization. Besides, ettringite was found to exert little impact on the solidification and stabilization of Sb. However, due to the complex composition of MSB, it was hard to conclude whether Sb entered the ettringite lattice.

The Effect of Alcohol Compound on the Solidification of Magnesium Oxysulfate Cement-Boron Mud Blends

At present, the utilization of boron resources in China is increasing, and the problem of boron tailing pollution is becoming increasingly serious. To fundamentally solve the problem of boron tailing, many scholars at home and abroad have mainly studied the curing effect in terms of compressive strength, and little research has been carried out into the solidification effect and hydration products. This study explored the effects of adding different alcohol-based modifiers on the hydration products of magnesium oxysulfate cement-boron mud mixture, the microstructure, physical properties and curing effects of the samples. The results show that magnesium oxysulfate cement is beneficial to the solidification of boron in boron mud due to its low-alkali. Adding an alcohol-based modifier can increase the compressive strength of magnesium oxysulfate cement-boron mud blends. After adding acrylic acid and D-Mannitol, the 28-day compressive strength of the sample increased by 44.7 MPa. The blending of alcohol-based modifiers has a very good effect on the curing of boron in the whole system.

Effects of sulfur dosage on continuous bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated sediment

The bioleaching technology has been considered as a promising green technology for remediation of contaminated sediments in recent years. Bioleaching technology was generally conducted in the batch bioreactor; however, the continuous bioreactor should be developed for the application of bioleaching technology in the future. The purposes of this study were to establish a continuous bioleaching process, and to evaluate the effects of sulfur dosage on the efficiency of metal removal during this continuous bioleaching process. The obtained results show that the pH decrease, sulfate production and metal removal efficiency all increased with increasing sulfur dosage in the continuous bioleaching process due to high substrate concentration for sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. After 30 days of operation time, the maximum solubilization efficiencies for Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr were found to be 78%, 90%, 88% and 68%, respectively, at 5% of sulfur dosage. After the bioleaching process, heavy metals bound in the carbonates, Fe-Mn oxides and organics/sulfides in the sediment were effectively removed and the potential ecological and toxic risks of treated sediment were greatly reduced. The results of bacterial community analyses demonstrated that this continuous bioleaching process were dominated by several acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria; S. thermosulfidooxidans, At. thiooxidans/At. ferrooxidans, S. thermotolerans and At. albertensis, whereas the percentage of less-acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (T. thioparus and T. cuprina) was lower than 15% of total bacteria. In addition, the cell numbers of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria increased as the sulfur dosage was increased in the continuous bioleaching process.

Long-term leachability of Sb in smelting residue stabilized by reactive magnesia under accelerated exposure to strong acid rain

This study investigated the long-term leachability of antimony (Sb) in a smelting residue (39519 mg/kg) solidified/stabilized by reactive magnesia (MgO). Different dosages of MgO (0% as control, 2%, 5%, and 10% on a dry basis) were compared, and the long-term performance was evaluated by an accelerated exposure test consist of 20 consecutive leaching steps with simulated strong acid rain (SAR, HNO₃: H₂SO₄ = 1:2, pH = 3.20) as the extractant. Notably, the MgO treatments efficiently reduced the Sb leachability. Compared to the original slag (8.3 mg/L), the leaching concentrations based on a Chinese standard HJ/T299-2007 were reduced by 58%, 79%, 85%, and 86% at MgO dosages of 0%, 2%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. Because the studied slag was rich in oxides like SiO₂, CaO, and MgO, the hydration reactions probably happened during the aging processes with oxic water. It was inferred that the formed hydration products have a self-solidification/stabilization function to suppress the Sb leaching from the solid phase. The mineralogical characterization results proved that the hydrated Mg(OH)₂ played an essential role in the decrease of Sb leachability. Besides, the MgO addition promoted the hydration of this smelting slag and formed new hydrate gels that immobilize Sb in this slag. Our results confirmed that MgO-amended slags were resistant to continuous SAR corrosion. Compared to the control, the dosage of 5% MgO could effectively reduce the cumulatively released Sb by 57%, with only 0.46% of total Sb could be leached. The decomposition of Mg(OH)₂ and hydrate gels determined the re-release of Sb in a long term. Our work has demonstrated that reactive MgO amendment could be potentially selected as an effective strategy for the treatment of Sb-containing smelting residues in field conditions.

Sewage sludge ash-incorporated stabilisation/solidification for recycling and remediation of marine sediments

Finding suitable disposal sites for dredged marine sediments and incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) is a challenge. Stabilisation/solidification (S/S) has become an increasingly popular remediation technology. This study sheds light on the possible beneficial use of ISSA together with traditional binders to stabilise/solidify marine sediments. The performance of the binders on S/S of sediment 1 (clean) and sediment 2 (contaminated) was also compared. The results showed that the use of ISSA as part of the binder was effective in promoting the strength of the sediment with a high initial moisture content due to ISSA porous and high water absorption characteristics. The sediments treated with 10% cement and 20% ISSA attained the highest strength. Also, cement hydration as well as pozzolanic reactions between ISSA and Ca(OH)₂ made contributions to the strength development. This was supported by the microstructural analysis, in particular the porosity results. In terms of environmental impacts, two leaching tests (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure and synthetic precipitation leaching procedure) found that all the S/S treated sediment by 10% lime and 20% ISSA resulted in the lowest leachate concentrations under the on-site reuse scenario or under simulative acidic rainfall conditions. Therefore, recycling waste ISSA with lime can be used as an appealing binder to replace cement to stabilise/solidify dredged marine sediments for producing fill materials.

Comparison of the effectiveness of biochar vs. magnesite amendments to immobilize metals and restore a polluted soil

Here we addressed the remediation of a soil severely contaminated by Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. In this regard, we tested the capacity of magnesite and biochar, inorganic and organic soil amendments, respectively, to reduce metal availability and improve soil properties. To this end, 1-kg pots containing the polluted soil were amended with either magnesite or biochar. Metal availability and soil properties were then measured at days 15 and 75. Also, to evaluate the impact of the two treatments on plant growth, we conducted experimental trials with Brassica juncea L. and compost addition. Both amendments, but particularly magnesite, markedly decreased metal availability. Soil properties were also enhanced, as reflected by increases in the cation exchangeable capacity. However, plant growth was inhibited by magnesite amendment. This observation could be attributable to an increase in soil pH and cation exchange capacity as well as a high Mg concentration. In contrast, biochar increased biomass production but decreased the quantity of metals recovered when the plants are harvested. In conclusion, on the basis of our results, we propose magnesite as a suitable approach for stabilizing contaminated soils (or even spoil heaps) where revegetation is not a priority. In contrast, although biochar has a lower, but still significant, capacity to immobilize metals, it can be used to restore natural soil properties and thus favor plant growth.

Sustainable ex-situ remediation of contaminated sediment: A review

Routine waterway dredging activities generate huge volumes of dredged sediment. The remediation of dredged contaminated sediment is a worldwide challenge. Novel and sustainable ex-situ remediation technologies for contaminated sediment have been developed and adopted in recent years. In this review paper, the state-of-art ex-situ treatment technologies and resource utilisation methods for contaminated sediment were critically reviewed. By applying different techniques, sediment could been successfully transformed into sustainable construction materials, such as ceramsite, supplementary cementitious materials, fill materials, paving blocks, partition blocks, ready-mixed concrete, and foamed concrete. We highlighted that proper remediation technologies should be cleverly selected and designed according to the physical and chemical characteristics of sediment, without neglecting important aspects, such as cost, safety, environmental impacts, readiness level of the technology and social acceptability. The combination of different assessment methods (e.g., environmental impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis and life cycle assessment) should be employed to comprehensively evaluate the feasibility of different sustainable remediation technologies. We call on the scientific community in a multidisciplinary fashion to evaluate the sustainability of various remediation technologies for contaminated sediment.

Solidification/Stabilization of Arsenic-Containing Tailings by Steel Slag-Based Binders with High Efficiency and Low Carbon Footprint

The disposal of nonferrous metal tailings poses a global economic and environmental problem. After employing a clinker-free steel slag-based binder (SSB) for the solidification/stabilization (S/S) of arsenic-containing tailings (AT), the effectiveness, leaching risk, and leaching mechanism of the SSB S/S treated AT (SST) were investigated via the Chinese leaching tests HJ/T299-2007 and HJ557-2010 and the leaching tests series of the multi-process Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF). The test results were compared with those of ordinary Portland cement S/S treated AT (PST) and showed that the arsenic (As) curing rates for SST and PST samples were in the range of 96.80–98.89% and 99.52–99.2%, respectively, whereby the leached-As concentration was strongly dependent on the pH of the leachate. The LEAF test results showed that the liquid–solid partitioning limit of As leaching from AT, SST, and PST was controlled by solubility, and the highest concentrations of leached As were 7.56, 0.34, and 0.33 mg/L, respectively. The As leaching mechanism of monolithic SST was controlled by diffusion, and the mean observed diffusion coefficient of 9.35 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm²/s was higher than that of PST (1.55 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm²/s). The findings of this study could facilitate the utilization of SSB in S/S processes, replacing cement to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Sustainable stabilization/solidification of the Pb, Zn, and Cd contaminated soil by red mud-derived binders

Red mud and phosphogypsum are voluminous industrial by-products worldwide. They have long been disposed of in landfills or open storage, leading to a waste of resource and environmental pollution. This study provides a novel approach to recycle these industrial by-products as sustainable red mud-phosphogypsum-Portland cement (RPPC) binders for stabilization/solidification (S/S) of multimetal-contaminated soil. The physical strength, metal leachability and microstructure of S/S soil were investigated after 7-day and 28-day curing, as well as freezing-thawing (F-T) cycle and wetting-drying (W-D) cycle. The results show that the strength of soil treated by all binders fulfilled the uniaxial compressive strength requirement (350 kPa) of S/S waste in landfills. Microstructural analyses show that the main hydration products of the RPPC S/S soil are ilmenite, ettringite, anhydrite and hydrated calcium silicate. The 10% and 15% RPPC binders have a competitive metal immobilization ability compared with 10% PC, but the immobilization priority is different: Pb > Zn > Cd in RPPC system and Zn > Cd > Pb in PC system, respectively, probably due to the precipiataion of Pb²⁺ with the abundant SO₄^2- in phosphogypsum in RPPC system. The strength of RPPC and PC treated soil was still higher than 350 kPa except for RPPC7.5 after 10 freeze-thaw or 10 wetting-drying cycles. The RPPC binder performed worse than PC binder after both freeze-thaw and wetting-drying cycles, especially at a lower dosage. Only the metal leaching concentrations of samples treated by RPPC15 and PC10 could fulfil the Chinese standards for hazardous wastes.

Treatment of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash: State-of-the-art technologies and future perspectives

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash is considered as a hazardous waste that requires specific treatment before disposal. The principal treatments encompass thermal treatment, stabilization/solidification, and resource recovery. To maximize environmental, social, and economic benefits, the development of low-carbon and sustainable treatment technologies for MSWI fly ash has attracted extensive interests in recent years. This paper critically reviewed the state-of-the-art treatment technologies and novel resource utilization approaches for the MSWI fly ash. Innovative technologies and future perspectives of MSWI fly ash management were highlighted. Moreover, the latest understanding of immobilization mechanisms and the use of advanced characterization technologies were elaborated to foster future design of treatment technologies and the actualization of sustainable management for MSWI fly ash.

Sustainable stabilization/solidification of arsenic-containing soil by blast slag and cement blends

Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring trace element that may pose a threat to human health and the ecosystem, while effective remediation and sustainable reuse of As-containing soil is a challenge. This study investigated the geoenvironmental characteristics of a geogenic As-rich soil, and green binders (ground granulated blast slag (GGBS) and cement blends) were employed for the stabilization/solidification (S/S) of the soil under field-relevant conditions. Results indicate that the use of 10% binder could effectively immobilize As and chemical stabilization/physical encapsulation jointly determined the leaching characteristics of the S/S soils. The geogenic As could be effectively immobilized at the pH range of 5.5-6.5. The increasing use of GGBS enhanced the strength of the 28-d cured S/S soils because of long-term pozzolanic reaction, but also slightly improved the As leachability. Besides, the moisture content of the contaminated soils should be suitably adjusted to allow for desirable compaction of S/S soils, which resulted in high compressive strength and low of As leachability. Results show that soil moisture content of 20% was the most appropriate, which resulted in the highest strength and relatively lower As leaching. In summary, this study presents a sustainable S/S binder for recycling As-contaminated soil by using a combination of cement and GGBS.

Phosphorus immobilization in water and sediment using iron-based materials: A review

As an essential element for life, phosphorus (P) is very important for organisms. However, excessive P in water and sediment can cause eutrophication, which poses a potential risk to drinking water safety and the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, effective phosphorus-control in water and sediment is the key strategy to control eutrophication. Iron-based materials exhibit high efficiency for P immobilization due to their strong affinity with P, low cost, easy availability, and environmentally friendliness. They are promising materials for controlling P in application. This work comprehensively summarizes the recent advances on P immobilization in water and sediment by different iron-based materials, including iron (hydr)oxides, iron salts, zero-valent iron and iron-loaded materials. This review is focused on the mechanism of the processes and how they are impacted by major influencing factors. The combination of iron-containing materials with other assisting materials is a good strategy to enhance P-fixation efficiency and selectivity. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of P-control technologies based on iron-containing materials are proposed. This review provides a systemic theoretical and experimental foundation for P-immobilization in water and sediment using iron-based materials.

Oyster shell powder for Pb(II) immobilization in both aquatic and sediment environments

Heavy metal pollution has always been a serious environmental problem widely concerned by researchers all around the world. On the other side, the accumulation of biowastes has also occupied a large amount of space and caused a series of environment pollution. In this study, the waste oyster shell, was applied as a type of biogenic carbonate material for Pb(II) removal from the aquatic environment, and further as a remediation agent for metal stabilization in the contaminated river sediment. After simple pretreatment, the oyster shell powder (OSP) was characterized, and the results showed that the prepared OSP is mainly composed of calcite with particle size of micron-level. The OSP exhibited excellent Pb(II) adsorption performance, with the adsorption capacity as 639.9 mg/g through adsorption isotherm study. Furthermore, the OSP was applied to remediate the collected river sediment artificially contaminated by Pb(II). It was found that the proportion of residual Pb fraction (F4) was greatly increased from 39.6% of the original sediment to 76.7% in the 14-day incubated sediment with OSP. The Pb(II) concentration after leaching procedure was decreased from 810.7 to 108.6 μg/L even after 5-day incubation. Therefore, this study shows the potential of using waste oyster shell as adsorbent and amendment agent for effective metal immobilization in both aquatic and sediment systems.

High-efficiency and low-carbon remediation of zinc contaminated sludge by magnesium oxysulfate cement

Electroplating sludge is classified as a hazardous waste due to its extremely high leachability of potentially toxic elements. This study concerns the use of magnesium oxysulfate cement (MOSC) for the stabilisation/solidification (S/S) of Zn-rich electroplating sludge. According to X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses, Zn was mainly immobilised through both chemical interaction and physical encapsulation in the MOSC hydrates of 5Mg(OH)₂·MgSO₄.7H₂O (5-1-7) phase. The crystal size analysis, elemental mapping, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis proved that the Zn²⁺ was also incorporated in the structure of 5-1-7 phase. Unlike Portland cement system, hydration kinetics, setting time, and compressive strength of the MOSC system were only negligibly modified by the presence of Zn, indicating its superior compatibility. Subsequent S/S experiments demonstrated that the MOSC binder exhibited an excellent performance on immobilisation efficiency of Zn (up to 99.9%), as well as satisfying the requirements of setting time and mechanical strength of sludge S/S products. Therefore, MOSC could be an effective and sustainable binder for the treatment of the Zn-rich industrial wastes.

Stabilisation/solidification of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash by phosphate-enhanced calcium aluminate cement

Landfill disposal of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MIFA) presents significant environmental and economic burden. This study proposed a novel and high-efficiency approach for stabilisation/solidification (S/S) of MIFA by phosphate-modified calcium aluminate cement (CAC). Experimental results showed that the presence of Pb (the most leachable metal contaminant in the MIFA) retarded the early-stage reaction of CAC, resulting in an extension of setting time and a significant decline of compressive strength of CAC pastes. The incorporation of phosphate additives (10 wt% of binder), especially for trisodium phosphate, in CAC system effectively mitigated the negative impact of Pb on the CAC reaction and reduced the Pb leachability. Elemental mapping results illustrated that Pb²⁺ coordinated with phosphate to generate insoluble precipitates (e.g., Pb₃(PO₄)₂). The S/S treated MIFA samples fulfilled the compressive strength and leachability requirements for on-site reuse. Overall, this study demonstrated that phosphate-modified CAC is a promising binder for S/S of hazardous MIFA.

Ex situ remediation of sediment from Serbia using a combination of electrokinetic and stabilization/solidification with accelerated carbonation treatments

The application of three simple and cost-effective technologies for ex situ remediation of the sediment of Begej River in Serbia is presented in this paper. In the first step, conventional electrokinetic treatment (EK) was carried out to reduce the amount of contaminated sediment and enhance the accumulation of metals. Subsequently, stabilization/solidification (S/S) treatment was applied to the remaining portion of polluted sediment to immobilize the accumulated metals. At the same time, the influence of accelerated carbonation on the effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated. The immobilizing agents used in this study included bio ash produced by combustion of wheat and soy straw mixture and bio ash derived from molasses incineration. After the treatments, the risk assessment was performed by using the sequential extraction procedure (SEP) and TCLP and DIN 3841-4 S4 leaching tests. The results obtained after the EK treatment revealed a reduction in the amount of polluted sediment to a half. Leaching tests and SEP performed on S/S mixtures after a 28-day maturation period indicated that accelerated carbonation decreased the mobility of critical metals, especially in wheat and soy straw mixtures. Moreover, based on the leaching tests, all prepared mixtures were categorized as non-hazardous and safe for disposal according to the relevant Serbian regulations. The newly developed method that combines EK and S/S treatments with the addition of accelerated carbonation produced reduced volumes of stabilized sediment which is safe for disposal.

Application of Gene Expression Programming (GEP) for the Prediction of Compressive Strength of Geopolymer Concrete

For the production of geopolymer concrete (GPC), fly-ash (FA) like waste material has been effectively utilized by various researchers. In this paper, the soft computing techniques known as gene expression programming (GEP) are executed to deliver an empirical equation to estimate the compressive strength fc′ of GPC made by employing FA. To build a model, a consistent, extensive and reliable data base is compiled through a detailed review of the published research. The compiled data set is comprised of 298 fc′ experimental results. The utmost dominant parameters are counted as explanatory variables, in other words, the extra water added as percent FA (%EW), the percentage of plasticizer (%P), the initial curing temperature (T), the age of the specimen (A), the curing duration (t), the fine aggregate to total aggregate ratio (F/AG), the percentage of total aggregate by volume ( %AG), the percent SiO₂ solids to water ratio (% S/W) in sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) solution, the NaOH solution molarity (M), the activator or alkali to FA ratio (AL/FA), the sodium oxide (Na₂O) to water ratio (N/W) for preparing Na₂SiO₃ solution, and the Na₂SiO₃ to NaOH ratio (Ns/No). A GEP empirical equation is proposed to estimate the fc′ of GPC made with FA. The accuracy, generalization, and prediction capability of the proposed model was evaluated by performing parametric analysis, applying statistical checks, and then compared with non-linear and linear regression equations.

Application of biochar for the remediation of polluted sediments

Polluted sediments pose potential threats to environmental and human health and challenges to water management. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through pyrolysis of biomass waste, which performs well in soil amendment, climate improvement, and water treatment. Unlike soil and aqueous solutions, sediments are both the sink and source of water pollutants. Regarding in-situ sediment remediation, biochar also shows unique advantages in removing or immobilizing inorganic and organic pollutants (OPs). This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current methods of in-situ biochar amendments specific to polluted sediments. Physicochemical properties (pore structure, surface functional groups, pH and surface charge, mineral components) were influenced by the pyrolysis conditions, feedstock types, and modification of biochar. Furthermore, the remediation mechanisms and efficiency of pollutants (heavy metals [HMs] and OPs) vary with the biochar properties. Biochar influences microbial compositions and benthic organisms in sediments. Depending on the location or flow rate of polluted sediments, potential utilization methods of biochar alone or coupled with other materials are discussed. Finally, future practical challenges of biochar as a sediment amendment are addressed. This review provides an overview and outlook for sediment remediation using biochar, which will be valuable for further scientific research and engineering applications.

Sandcastle worm-inspired phytic acid and magnesium oxychloride cement copolymerization for performance enhancement

The development of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) can convert wastes in the potash industry into valuable products and reduce CO₂ emission. The use of acid radicals has the potential to enhance the water resistance of MOC. However, because of the internal stress formed during the crystallization process, the occurrence of cracks accompanied by a significant decrease in the mechanical properties is inevitable. Inspired by the sandcastle worm and organic-inorganic copolymerization, a novel strategy was proposed, which employed phytic acid (PA) to copolymerize with phase 5 crystals to reduce the internal stress and prevent crack generation. XPS and TG-DSC analyses revealed that organic-inorganic copolymers were successfully produced. Furthermore, the compressive strength (CS) and water resistance of MOC-PA were significantly enhanced. The enhanced properties were associated with the coordination bonds and high tension of the rigid rings in phytic acid, which was sufficient to overcome the internal stress. Additionally, the repeated hydrolysis of rod-like phase 5 generated a gel-like phase from the outside inward, enhancing their water resistance. Compared with MOC-0, MOC-0.6 showed a 17.8% increase in CS and a 102.3% increase in water resistance. The microscopic mechanisms of the enhanced CS and water resistance of high-performance greener cements were proposed.

Mix design optimization and early strength prediction of unary and binary geopolymer from multiple waste streams

Geopolymer has received increasing amounts of attention recently due to its potential utilization of industrial and urban wastes. However, the variability of source materials and the complexity of mixture design hinder geopolymer applications derived from various waste streams. There is a need for a practical and quick scanning tool for material evaluation and mixture design optimization. Six types of industrial and urban wastes, two types of reagents, and two curing temperatures were employed in this study to systematically evaluate the feasibility of using isothermal calorimetry to optimize the geopolymer mixture design and predict the three-day strength. Test results show that isothermal calorimetry has the potential to quantify the compositional differences between source materials, identify the different kinetics of geopolymers, and determine the mechanical properties of final products. For the source materials with similar microstructure and fineness, fairly strong correlations between heat and strength could be found with R² = 0.91 for the NaOH solution and R² = 0.90 for the composite solution.

Structural characterizations of fly ash-based geopolymer after adsorption of various metal ions

Geopolymer, an amorphous substance, has been viewed as good adsorbent or catalyst and attracted much attentions from all over the world. In order to achieve the better applications of geopolymer in these fields, a deep understanding of the microstructure of geopolymer would be strongly required. In the present study, geopolymer was synthesized from coal fly ash, and the structural analysis of geopolymer after adsorption of various metal ions (Li⁺, Cs⁺, Sr²⁺ and Co²⁺) was studied using XRD, SEM-EDX, FTIR, UV-VIS DRS, TG-DTA as well as surface area and pore distribution analysis. Pair distribution function preferably illustrated that geopolymer was successfully prepared from calcined fly ash. Geopolymer possesses different affinities towards various metal ions. After exchanging with other metal ions, the main structure of geopolymer was maintained. Metal ions with a large radius would have greater effect on the existing state and amount of water molecules in geopolymer. Moreover, the specific surface area of geopolymer after exchanging with metal ions decreased as a function of the radius of them. The spectra corresponding to d-d transitions indicated that the Co²⁺ could be incorporated into the deformed six-member rings or eight-membered rings. It could be deduced that the sites for ion exchange could be different rings or even cavities distributed on the surface layer of geopolymer. Furthermore, the rings distributed in the geopolymer structure were predominant in the 6-, 8-, 10- or even 12-member rings to maintain the structure stability and charge balance with the cations.

Large-scale evaluation of deposition, bioavailability and ecological risks of the potentially toxic metals in the sediment cores of the hotspot coral reef ecosystems (Persian Gulf, Iran)

Coral reefs of the Persian Gulf are vulnerable to the potentially toxic metals (PTMs) accumulated in the ambient sediments. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the PTMs pollution and risk in the hotspot coral ecosystems of the Persian Gulf at a large-scale. Hereupon, this study focused on the PTMs contamination, their potential ecological risks, historical depositions, geochemical controls and the plausible pollution sources in the core sediments (0-40 cm) collected from the ten coral ecosystems of the Persian Gulf, Iran. Both total and fraction analysis indicated considerable metal pollution levels. Contamination was steadily decreasing towards the bottom of the sediment core, revealing the impact of a recent anthropogenic input. High metal association with the exchangeable and other mobile fractions was observed, indicating their high bioavailability. Of all the elements analyzed, toxic metals Cd, Hg and As exhibited the highest potential ecological risk (RI). Site rank index (SRI), modified degree of contamination (_mCd), and contamination severity index (CSI) based approaches identified stations ST5, ST9 and ST10 as the most contaminated sites of the study area. The same stations were also found to possess considerable ecological risk. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the stations located in the zone of the highest anthropogenic impact contain pollution sources for all the metals analyzed, whereas areas with low anthropogenic activity are mainly affected by the river runoff and urban emissions.

Red mud-enhanced magnesium phosphate cement for remediation of Pb and As contaminated soil

Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) contaminated soil poses severe threats to human health. This study proposes a novel approach for synchronous stabilisation/solidification (S/S) of Pb and As contaminated soil and explains the immobilisation mechanisms in red mud-modified magnesium phosphate cement (MPC). Experimental results show that incorporation of red mud in MPC binder retarded over-rapid reaction and enhanced compressive strength via the formation of (Al,Fe,K)PO₄·nH₂O compounds as indicated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and elemental mapping. The presence of Pb had a marginal effect on the MPC reaction; however, the presence of As suppressed the generation of MgKPO₄·6H₂O, leading to a significant delay of setting time and a reduction of compressive strength. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis proved that Pb²⁺ strongly coordinated with the PO₄^3-, whereas AsO₂- gently coordinated with K⁺. The MPC binder displayed an excellent immobilisation efficiency for Pb (99.9%), but was less effective for As. The use of red mud enhanced the As immobilisation efficacy to 80.5% due to strong complexation between AsO₂- and Fe³⁺. The treated soils fulfilled requirements of metal(loid) leachability and mechanical strength for on-site reuse. Therefore, red mud-modified MPC can be an effective binder for sustainable remediation of Pb and As contaminated soil.

A low cost of phosphate-based binder for Mn2+ and NH4+-N simultaneous stabilization in electrolytic manganese residue

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is a solid waste remained in filters after using sulfuric acid to leaching manganese carbonate ore. EMR contains high concentration of soluble manganese (Mn²⁺) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), which seriously pollutes the environment. In this study, a low cost of phosphate based binder for Mn²⁺ and NH₄⁺-N stabilization in EMR by low grade-MgO (LG-MgO) and superphosphate was studied. The effects of different types of stabilizing agent on the concentrations of NH₄⁺-N and Mn²⁺, the pH of the EMR leaching solution, stabilizing mechanisms of NH₄⁺-N and Mn²⁺, leaching test and economic analysis were investigated. The results shown that the pH of the EMR leaching solution was 8.07, and the concentration of Mn²⁺ was 1.58 mg/L, both of which met the integrated wastewater discharge standard (GB8978-1996), as well as the concentration of NH₄⁺-N decreased from 523.46 mg/L to 32 mg/L, when 4.5 wt.% LG-MgO and 8 wt.% superphosphate dosage were simultaneously used for the stabilization of EMR for 50 d Mn²⁺ and NH₄⁺-N were mainly stabilized by Mn₃(PO₄)₂·2H₂O, MnOOH, Mn₃O₄, Mn(H₂PO₄)₂·2H₂O and NH₄MgPO₄·6H₂O. Economic evaluation revealed that the treatment cost of EMR was $ 11.89/t. This study provides a low-cost materials for NH₄⁺-N and Mn²⁺ stabilization in EMR.

Effects of treatment agents during acid washing and pH neutralization on the fertility of heavy metal-impacted dredged marine sediment as plant-growing soil

The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of different acids and pH neutralizers applied to dredged marine sediment for the treatment of heavy metals, and the resulting influence on the sediment quality as a plant growth medium. The inspection of barley germination in the dredged marine sediment revealed that residual salts are critical plant stressors whose adverse effects exceed those exhibited by high-level heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons present in the sediment. Acid washing and pH neutralization reduced not only the heavy metal contents but also the sediment salinity (by factors of 6.1-9.5), resulting in 100% germination of barley. For acid-washed and calcium-oxide-neutralized sediment, the barley growth was comparable to that observed in untreated and water washed sediment despite factors of 5.2-8.0 greater sediment salinity in the former. This result represents the protective effect of residual calcium against sodium and chloride toxicity. Water washing of acid-washed and pH-neutralized sediments further enhanced barley growth owing to the reduction in osmotic pressure. This study showed the effect of different sediment-washing reagents on the product quality. It also indicated the significance of balancing the enhancement of product quality and economic cost of further treatment requirements.

Evaluating the environmental impact of contaminated sediment column stabilized by deep cement mixing

Deep cement mixing (DCM) method is a widely used geotechnical technique for increasing ground stabilization before construction works. However, the environmental influence of stabilized ground on the surrounding area remains a concern. A physical model experiment of DCM-treated sediment column was conducted to investigate both geotechnical and environmental effects on the surrounding sediment. The DCM column contained the cement-stabilized contaminated sediment and surrounded by uncontaminated sediment. The physical behaviour, including settlement, pore water pressure, and total pressure were measured under different loadings. Simultaneously, the migration of the major ions into seawater, and leaching of potentially toxic elements into the surrounding sediment were evaluated. The results revealed that the leaching of major ions from the DCM column followed the dissipation of excess pore water and migrated to the seawater above the sediment surface. Nevertheless, the leaching behaviour of potentially toxic elements into the surrounding sediment and variation of pH value after the DCM treatment were within an acceptable level. Therefore, the contaminated marine sediment could be effectively stabilized and solidified by in-situ remediation with minimal secondary pollution to the surrounding environment.

Evaluating the environmental impacts of stabilization and solidification technologies for managing hazardous wastes through life cycle assessment: A case study of Hong Kong

Proper management of hazardous materials arouses widespread environmental concerns due to its enormous ecological and health impacts. The development of green stabilization/solidification (S/S) technology for resourceful utilization of hazardous materials, as well as the immobilization of potentially toxic elements is of great scientific interests. Cement-based S/S is often considered a low-cost and highly efficient technology, but the environmental sustainability of a broad spectrum of S/S technologies has yet to be evaluated. Therefore, this study assessed the environmental sustainability of S/S technologies for managing two common types of hazardous wastes, i.e., contaminated marine sediment and municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MIFA) by using life cycle assessment (LCA). A total of 17 scenarios under three strategies for sediment and two strategies for MIFA S/S technologies were comprehensively evaluated. The LCA results identified the most preferable S/S technology in each strategy. In particular, Scenario 1 (mixture of sediment with a small percentage of ordinary Portland cement and incinerated sewage sludge ash) of Strategy 1 (use as fill materials) would be the preferred option, as it reduces about 54% and 70% global warming potential compared to those of Scenarios 2 and 3, respectively. This is the first initiative for evaluating the environmental impacts of a wide range of recently developed S/S technologies using green/alternative binders for diverting hazardous wastes from disposal. The results can serve as a decision support for the practical application of the environmentally friendly S/S technology for sustainable remediation.

Contaminated aquatic sediments

The remediation of contaminated aquatic sediments requires a range of expertise from assessment (investigation, risk evaluations, modeling, and remedy selection) to design and construction. Research in 2019 has added to knowledge on optimizing the use of passive samplers for assessing chemical concentrations in sediment porewater. The porewater and black carbon appear to be better predictors of contaminant bioaccumulation than total organic carbon alone. This has led to better characterization of potential risk at sediment sites. Tools to identify and model sources of chemicals have been developed and used particularly for some metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. There is great emphasis on beneficially using dredged sediment, treating it as a resource rather than a waste. Amendments used in sediment caps continue to be refined including the use of activated carbon within the caps and by itself. A technique involving 16S rRNA has been established as a means of identifying microbiological composition that naturally degrade contaminants. © 2020 Water Environment Federation PRACTITIONER POINTS: Sediment capping technology continues to advance Sampling and testing methods continue to be refined Natural processes such as biodegradation are being better understood Beneficial use of dredged sediment continue to be emphasized.

Applications of Gene Expression Programming and Regression Techniques for Estimating Compressive Strength of Bagasse Ash based Concrete

Compressive strength is one of the important property of concrete and depends on many factors. Most of the concrete compressive strength predictive models mainly rely on available literature data, which are too simple to consider all the contributing factors. This study adopted a new approach to predict the compressive strength of sugarcane bagasse ash concrete (SCBAC). A vast amount of data from the literature study and fifteen laboratory tested concrete samples with different dosage of bagasse ash, were respectively used to calibrate and validate the models. The novel Gene Expression Programming, Multiple Linear Regression and Multiple Non-Linear Regression were used to model SCBAC compressive strength. The water cement ratio, bagasse ash percent replacement, quantity of fine and coarse aggregate and cement content were used as an input for models development. Various statistical indicators, i.e., NSE, R2 and RMSE were used to assess the performance of the models. The results indicated a strong correlation between observed and predicted values with NSE and R2 both above 0.8 during calibration and validation for the Gene Expression Programming (GEP). The outcomes from GEP outclassed all the models to predict SCBAC compressive strength. The validity of the model is further verified using data of fifteen tests conducted in the laboratory. Moreover, the cement content in the mix was revealed as the most sensitive parameter followed by water cement ratio form sensitivity analysis. The GEP fulfilled all the criteria for external validity. The simple formulae derived in this study could be used reliably for the prediction of SCBAC compressive strength.

Influence of silicate on the structural memory effect of layered double hydroxides for the immobilization of selenium

The influence of silicate on the structural memory effect of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) has been rarely reported. In this study, five kinds of calcined LDHs (CLDHs) were synthesized and used as adsorbents for the sorption of selenium with or without silicate, under the initial pH 10 and 13, respectively, characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm. The results indicated that silicate can significantly affect the phase transformation of CLDHs, and the sorption amounts of selenite and selenate dramatically decreased in the presence of silicate. Specifically, silicate can react with MgO and Al₂O₃ in CLDHs to generate magnesium silicate hydrate and geopolymer-like substance which were covered on the surface of particles, blocking the hydroxylation of metal oxides. However, higher pH suppressed the interaction between MgO and silicate and enhanced the formation of geopolymer-like substance, which promoted the regeneration of LDHs. Al in CLDHs plays a critical role in the regeneration of LDHs. Besides, the ternary oxides (CLDH-2, Mg₂Al_0.75Fe_0.25-oxide; CLDH-3, Mg₂Al_0.5Fe_0.5-oxide) possessed larger specific surface areas (127.7 and 158.2 m²/g) and consequently presented more resistance to the effect of silicate.

Hydration behavior and immobilization mechanism of MgO-SiO2-H2O cementitious system blended with MSWI fly ash

MSWI(Municipal solid waste incineration) fly ash as hazardous wastes usually is treated properly with OPC(ordinary Portland cement) based binders prior to being disposed in security landfill, but some toxic elements present poor stability in its highly alkaline environment. This study developed a novel solidification/stabilization technology based on MgO-SiO₂-H₂O (M-S-H) cementious material with compatibility with contaminants for MSWI fly ash encapsulation. Compressive strength and leaching toxicity tests were undertaken to evaluate the immobilization effect of MSWI fly ash treated with M-S-H matrix. And TAM, XRD, DTA/TGA and SEM techniques were employed to explore hydration process and microstructure morphology of M-S-H solidified body. Results demonstrated that M-S-H cement matrix played a positive impact on the immobilization of heavy metals, and the immobilization rate of Cd, Pb and Zn was 97.5%, 99.8% and 98.7%, which was far more than that fixed in Portland cement. The incorporation of MSWI fly ash inhibited the hydration process of M-S-H matrix on the whole, which was mainly due to its poor pozzolanic activity. Moreover, there were some new hydration phases including CdSiO₃, Ca₃PbSiO₆ and Zn(OH)₂ generated and some MSWI fly ash embedded in the core-shell structure of M-S-H matrix in depth. These results suggested that heavy metals of MSWI fly ash were mainly fixed in M-S-H solidified bodies by physical encapsulation, isomorphous replacement and chemical precipitation. Overall, this study demonstrated that M-S-H matrix is a promising candidate that can serve as low-carbon and high-efficient materials for hazardous MSWI fly ash.

The rainfall effect onto solidification and stabilization of heavy metal-polluted sediments

Rainfall makes impacts on the process of solidification/stabilization (S/S) and the long-term safety of solidified matrix. In this study, the effect of rainfall on solidification/stabilization process was investigated by the rainfall test. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) were adopted to characterize the properties of S/S sediments before and after the rainfall test. The samples cured for 28 days were selected for semi-dynamic leaching tests with a simulated acidic leachant prepared at pH of 2.0, 4.0 and 7.0. The effectiveness of S/S treatment was evaluated by diffusion coefficient (D_e ) and leachability index (LX). The results indicated that UCS decreased at maximum deterioration rate of 34.23% after 7 days of curing, along with the minimum rate of 7.98% after 28 days by rainfall, with greater than 14 days referred. The rainfall had little effect on the leaching characteristics of heavy metals during the curing process. However, the simulated acid rain made significant impacts on the leaching behaviours of the heavy metals in the S/S materials. All the values of cumulative fraction of leached heavy metals were less than 2.0%, exhibition of good stabilization of cement. Furthermore, the calculated diffusion coefficient (D_e ) for Cu was 1.28 × 10¹ cm² s^-1, indicating its low mobility of heavy metal ions in S/S sediments. Furthermore, the calculated diffusion coefficients (D_i ) for Cd, Cu and Pb were 7.44 × 10^-11, 8.18 × 10^-12 and 7.85 × 10^-12 cm² s^-1, respectively, indicating their relatively low mobility of heavy metal in S/S sediments.

Green immobilization of toxic metals using alkaline enhanced rice husk biochar: Effects of pyrolysis temperature and KOH concentration

Biochar is a "green" material that has been widely used in environmental applications for its capability to remove or immobilize contaminants in different environmental media (i.e. soil, water and air) and mitigate climate change. In this study, the feasibility of using KOH enhanced biochar for soil Cd and Pb stabilization was investigated, and the effects of pyrolysis temperature and alkaline concentrations for modification were explored. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were conducted to reveal the influence on biochar physiochemical properties. The immobilization performances were examined through Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP), and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was adopted to visualize the results from leaching tests. The stabilization mechanisms of alkaline enhanced biochars were investigated using Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS), Tessier sequential extraction method and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The results indicated that rice husk biochar pyrolyzed at a relatively low temperature (i.e., 300 °C) and activated by moderate alkaline concentrations (i.e., 1 M or 3 M KOH) rendered optimum stabilization performance. KOH activation was a double-edged sword, with high alkaline concentrations destroying biochar's cell structures. Moreover, the integration of TOF-SIMS, XRD and sequential leaching method shed lights on the underlying mechanisms involved in metal stabilization. Surface complexation between toxic metals and oxygen-containing functional groups rather than liming or precipitation was proven to be the fundamental stabilization mechanism.

Mechanism analysis of selenium (VI) immobilization using alkaline-earth metal oxides and ferrous salt

The immobilization of selenate (SeO₄^2-) using metal oxides (CaO and MgO) and ferrous salt as the immobilization reagents were examined by the leaching test and solid-phase analysis via XRD, XAFS, TGA, and XPS. The results indicated that nearly all of SeO₄^2- was reduced to SeO₃^2- in the CaO-based reaction within 7 days. Then, the generated SeO₃^2- was mainly sorbed onto the iron-based minerals (Fe₂O₃ and FeOOH) through the formation of both bidentate mononuclear edge-sharing (¹E) and monodentate mononuclear corner-sharing (¹V) inner-sphere surface complexes, suggested by PHREEQC simulation and EXAFS analysis. Differently, less amount of SeO₄^2- (approximately 45.50%) was reduced to SeO₃^2- for the MgO-based reaction. However, if the curing time increases to a longer time (more than 7 days), the further reduction could occur because there are still Fe(II) species in the matrix. As for the associations of Se in the solid residue, most of the selenium (SeO₃^2- and SeO₄^2-) was preferentially distributed onto the Mg(OH)₂ through outer-sphere adsorption. Definitely, this research can provide a deep understanding of the immobilization of selenium using alkaline-earth metal oxide related materials and ferrous substances.

Spectroscopic and first-principles investigations of iodine species incorporation into ettringite: Implications for iodine migration in cement waste forms

Low-level radioactive wastes are commonly immobilized in cementitious materials, where cement-based material can incorporate radionuclides into their crystal structure. Specifically, ettringite (Ca₆Al₂(OH)₁₂(SO₄)₃∙26H₂O) is known to stabilize anionic species, which is appealing for waste streams with radioactive iodine (¹²⁹I) that persists as iodide (I-) and iodate (IO₃-) in the cementitious nuclear waste repository. However, the structural information and immobilization mechanisms of iodine species in ettringite remain unclear. The present results suggested minimal I- incorporation into ettringite (0.05 %), whereas IO₃- exhibited a high affinity for ettringite via anion substitution for SO₄^2- (96 %). The combined iodine K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra and first-principles calculations using density functional theory (DFT) suggested that IO₃- was stabilized in ettringite by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces. Substituting IO₃- for SO₄^2- was energetically favorable by -0.41 eV, whereas unfavorable substitution energy of 4.21 eV was observed for I- substitution. Moreover, the bonding charge density analysis of the substituted IO₃- and I- anions into the ettringite structure revealed the interaction between intercalated ions with the structural water molecules. These results provided valuable insight into the long-term stabilization of anionic iodine species and their migration in cementitious nuclear waste repository or alkaline environments.

Immobilization of cesium with alkali-activated blast furnace slag

Alkali-activated binders (AABs), as a promising alternative to Portland cement, are now being used on a commercial scale in various applications around the world, including hazardous and radioactive waste immobilization. In this paper, the leaching resistance, strength, and nanostructural alteration of alkali-activated blast furnace slag (AABFS) doped with 2 % and 5 % cesium were investigated. The addition of cesium caused a significant increase in the compressive strength of AABFS, followed by mild strength reduction after leaching. AABFS can be considered a potentially efficient matrix for cesium immobilization, since the mean leachability index in both cases (2 % and 5 % of Cs added) was above the threshold value of 6. Both doping with Cs and leaching caused the transformation of the AABFS nanostructure. The majority of the aluminum that was released from the C-A-S-H gel due to leaching remained within the AABFS matrix, initiating gel reconstruction: the C-A-S-H gel was converted to C-S-H gel, and an additional N-(C)-A-S-H gel was also formed. Cesium was preferentially associated with the N-(C)-A-S-H gel rather than with the C-A-S-H gel. The results of this research seem to be in good agreement with the Cross-linked Substituted Tobermorite Model (CSTM).

Evaluating the mobility and labile of As and Sb using diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) in the sediments of Nansi Lake, China

Arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) contamination in the aquatic environment have received significant attention recently due to the potential risks they pose. However, there have been few studies about the simultaneous behaviors of As and Sb, resulting in a poor understanding of their occurrence at the sediment-water interface (SWI), especially at the millimeter scale. In this study, soluble and labile concentrations of As and Sb were investigated using high-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) in Nansi Lake, China, respectively. Results showed mean soluble concentrations of As and Sb were 5.00 μg/L and 2.05 μg/L, respectively. DGT-labile concentrations of As and Sb ranged from 0 to 0.80 μg/L and from 0.50 to 0.67 μg/L, respectively. In the vertical profile, different tends for DGT-labile concentration As and Sb were observed. The reductive dissolution of Fe/Mn (hydr)oxides was considered as a crucial driver for As release and mobility, which was supported by its significant correlation (r = 0.348, p < .05) with Fe. While DGT-labile Sb concentration was negatively correlated with DGT-labile Fe (r = -0.24, p < .05) and Mn (r = -0.324, p < .05), this may be attributed to the absorption of the Sb(III) by the green rusts in sub-oxic and mildly alkaline environments. The significant differences between DGT-labile concentration and community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction were shown using a linear regression relationship, indicating that BCR chemical fractions cannot reflect the mobility of As and Sb in the sediment. Furthermore, the net diffusive fluxes of As and Sb based on DGT-labile concentration were 0.24 and - 0.56 μg∙m^-2∙day^-1, respectively. There was a potential risk of toxicity to the overlying water from As.

Remediation of cadmium and lead polluted soil using thiol-modified biochar

Thiol-modified rice straw biochar (RS) was prepared by an esterification reaction with β-mercaptoethanol and used for the remediation of Cd and Pb polluted soils. Modified biochar was characterized through elemental analysis, BET analysis, FE-SEM, FT-IR and XPS. These analytical results revealed that thiol groups were successfully grafted onto the surface of the biochar and were involved in metal ion complexation. Batch sorption experiments indicated that Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ sorption onto RS described well by a pseudo second order kinetic model and a Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, in the single-metal systems, were 45.1 and 61.4 mg g^-1, respectively. In the binary-metal systems, RS selectively adsorbed Cd²⁺ over Pb²⁺. Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were removed mainly through surface complexation. In the soil incubation experiments (28 days), RS reduced the available Cd by 34.8-39.2 %; while, RS reduced the available Pb by 8.6 %-11.1 %. This research demonstrates RS as a potentially effective amendment for the remediation of heavy metal polluted soils.