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Effectively reducing the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals in sediment and improving sediment properties with a low-cost composite

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Abstract

Heavy metal–contaminated sediment is a common environmental problem. In situ stabilization is an effective and low-cost method to remediate heavy metal–contaminated sediment. In this study, a red mud-based low-cost composite (RMM) was used to stabilize heavy metal–contaminated sediment. RMM was mixed with heavy metal–contaminated sediment at the doses of 0%, 1%, 3% and 5%. The CaCl2-extractable, DTPA-extractable, leachability (TCLP) and heavy metal fractions were analysed to evaluate the stabilization efficiency of RMM for heavy metals. The selected properties and microbial activities of the sediment were analysed to verify the safety of RMM to sediment. The results showed that RMM reduced the DTPA-, CaCl2- and TCLP-extractable heavy metals in sediment. At an RMM dose of 5%, DTPA-, CaCl2- and TCLP- extractable heavy metals were reduced by 7.60%, 72.34% and 69.24% for Pb; 18.20%, 76.7% and 23.57% for Cd; 32.7%, 96.50% and 49.64% for Zn; and 35.0%, 61.20% and 55.27% for Ni, respectively. TCLP- and DTPA-extractable Cu was reduced by 71.15% and 12.90%, respectively. In contrast, CaCl2-extractable Cu increased obviously after the application of RMM. RMM reduced the acid-soluble fraction of Zn by 6.99% and increased the residual fraction of Ni by 4.28%. However, the influence of RMM on the fractions of Pb, Cd and Cu was nonsignificant. In addition, the application of RMM increased the pH values of the sediment, and the microbial activity in the sediment was also obviously enhanced. These results indicated that RMM has great potential in the remediation of heavy metal–contaminated sediment.

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Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51704093), Open Funding Project of National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering (SYFD180051810K and 614222207041813), and First-class Disciplines Innovation Team Training Projects in Henan University (2019YLZDYJ12, 2018YLTD16).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Demonstration Center for Environmental and Planning, College of Environment & Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China

    Xiaoyu Ma, Qiang Ren, Chao Hu, Mengke Zhao, Yuan Tian & Yangyang Wang

  2. Henan Engineering Research Center for Control & Remediation of Soil Heavy Metals Pollution, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China

    Xiaoyu Ma, Qiang Ren, Chao Hu, Mengke Zhao, Yuan Tian & Yangyang Wang

  3. Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China

    Xiaoyu Ma, Qiang Ren, Chao Hu, Mengke Zhao, Yuan Tian & Yangyang Wang

  4. National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China

    Wenhao Zhan

  5. School of Metallurgical & Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Qi Liao & Zhihui Yang

Authors
  1. Xiaoyu Ma
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  2. Qiang Ren
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  3. Wenhao Zhan
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  4. Chao Hu
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  5. Mengke Zhao
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  6. Yuan Tian
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  7. Qi Liao
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  8. Zhihui Yang
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  9. Yangyang Wang
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Correspondence to Yangyang Wang.

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Ma, X., Ren, Q., Zhan, W. et al. Effectively reducing the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals in sediment and improving sediment properties with a low-cost composite. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 45581–45590 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10343-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10343-9

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