Nanoscale zero-valent iron-assisted soil washing for the removal of potentially toxic elements

[EN] The present study focuses on soil washing enhancement via soil pretreatment with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for the remediation of potentially toxic elements. To this end, soil polluted with As, Cu, Hg, Pb and Sb was partitioned into various grain sizes (500–2000, 125–500 and <125 μm)...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Boente López, Carlos, Sierra Fernández, Carlos, Martínez Blanco, David, Menéndez Aguado, Juan María, Rodríguez Gallego, José Luis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universidad de León
Repositorio:BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
OAI Identifier:oai:buleria.unileon.es:10612/26169
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10612/26169
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ecología. Medio ambiente
Nanoscale zero-valent iron
PTEs
Soil Remediation
Soil Washing
2511.06 Conservación de Suelos
2511.04 Química de Suelos
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] The present study focuses on soil washing enhancement via soil pretreatment with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for the remediation of potentially toxic elements. To this end, soil polluted with As, Cu, Hg, Pb and Sb was partitioned into various grain sizes (500–2000, 125–500 and <125 μm). The fractions were pretreated with nZVI and subsequently subjected, according to grain size, to Wet-High Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS) or hydrocycloning. The results were compared with those obtained in the absence of nanoparticles. An exhaustive characterization of the magnetic signal of the nanoparticles was done. This provided valuable information regarding potentially toxic elements (PTEs) fate, and allowed a metallurgical accounting correction considering the dilution effects caused by nanoparticle addition. As a result, remarkable recovery yields were obtained for Cu, Pb and Sb, which concentrated with the nZVI in the magnetically separated fraction (WHIMS tests) and underflow (hydrocyclone tests). In contrast, Hg, concentrated in the non-magnetic fraction and overflow respectively, while the behavior of As was unaltered by the nZVI pretreatment. All things considered, the addition of nZVI enhanced the efficiency of soil washing, particularly for larger fractions (125–2000 μm). The proposed methodology lays the foundations for nanoparticle utilization in soil washing operations.