Effects of cement or lime on Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn mobility in field-contaminated and aged soils

Cement or lime can be used to treat trace element contaminated soils, reducing their mobility due to increased soil pH which enhances precipitation and adsorption, and also due to pozzolanic reactions and cementation. In the present work, an alkaline and an acidic soil both containing Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn from either geogenic or geogenic and anthropogenic origin were treated with cement or calcium hydroxide. Soils were then extracted with dilute HNO3 or NaOH solution of different concentrations to obtain extracts of different pH (pH 4-12). In untreated soils, Co, Cu, Ni and Pb in solutions were detected at alkaline pH. The addition of cement or Ca(OH)(2) reduced the mobility of every trace element at high pH, but enhanced the mobility of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn at low pH. Metal mobilisation at high pH was observed for Cu in the acidic soil due to the liberation of dissolved organic matter. Below pH 6, Sb mobility was lower in the cement-treated soil compared to the untreated soil, but the same in the Ca(OH)(2) treated soil as in the control soil. Comparison with theoretical trace element precipitates suggested that the mobility of trace elements is likely reduced at high pH by encapsulation and immobilisation within the cement matrix rather then precipitation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.