Heavy metal and metalloid emissions during co-processing of waste in a sintering kiln: Migration characteristics in the kiln and long-term leaching from bricks

Heavy metals (HMs) in mixed hazardous waste can be volatilized in the kiln for preparing sintered bricks, which greatly increases the environmental risk. In this study, the volatilization, transformation, and leaching of HMs from bricks were evaluated. Field tests and laboratory leaching experiments were carried out. HM-contaminated soil was used to prepare sintered bricks at high-temperature in a tunnel kiln. Release of HMs from brick under rainfall conditions was investigated in laboratory simulation experiments. The field tests showed that the total amount of Pb, Zn, Cd distributed to the gas phase were all less than 2%, but the amount of Hg entering the gas phase 40.1%-60.5% in the particulate forms. The As leaching rate increased after sintering of bricks in the kiln, which was attributed to the increased formation of soluble arsenate and the reduced availability of sorption sites. The tank leaching test indicated that the release mechanism of trance elements (Cr, As, Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni) was mainly controlled by diffusion. This study provides useful knowledge for decreasing the volatilization and leaching of HMs from sintered bricks prepared using hazardous waste.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the volatilization, transformation, and leaching of heavy metals (HMs) from sintered bricks prepared using hazardous waste. The results show that the volatilization and leaching of HMs, particularly Hg in particulate form, are of high environmental risk in the kiln. Additionally, the leaching rate of As increases after sintering in the kiln. The findings of this study are important for reducing the volatilization and leaching of HMs.