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Immobilization of Heavy Metals by Co-pyrolysis of Contaminated Soil with Woody Biomass

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Abstract

We investigated the potential application of pyrolysis treatment to a mixture of woody biomass and a metal-contaminated soil as an alternative eco-friendly option to stabilize metals in soils. Our specific objective was to test the optimum combination of high heating temperature (HHT) and heating time to effectively encapsulate metals in a contaminated soil into a biochar. For this purpose, we used a laboratory bench batch reactor to react a mixture of multi-element metal contaminated soil with 0% (control) 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w) sawdust. Each mixture was reacted at 200°C and 400°C HHT for 1 and 2 h heating times. Physicochemical and morphological characterization along with standard EPA Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) test were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the heat treatment to immobilize the metals in the contaminated soil. Compared to controls, we recorded up to 93% reduction in Cd and Zn leachability after 1 h heat treatment at 400°C, with the addition of 5–10% biomass. Pb leaching was reduced by 43% by the same treatment but without the addition of biomass. At lower pyrolysis temperature (200°C), however, there was a substantial increase in both As and Zn leaching compared to the untreated controls. Our study suggests that several factors such as the type of metal, heating temperature, heating period, and the addition of biomass influence the efficiency of pyrolysis to immobilize metals in the contaminated soil.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Canada Research Chair Program and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. We would like to thank Stacey Shantz, Allen Esler and Dr. Quanji Wu for their assistance in the pyrolysis experiment and laboratory analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada, V2N 4Z9

    F. Debela

  2. Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada, V2N 4Z9

    R. W. Thring & J. M. Arocena

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  1. F. Debela
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  2. R. W. Thring
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  3. J. M. Arocena
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Correspondence to F. Debela.

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Debela, F., Thring, R.W. & Arocena, J.M. Immobilization of Heavy Metals by Co-pyrolysis of Contaminated Soil with Woody Biomass. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 1161–1170 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0934-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0934-2

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