{"title":"Mineralogical insights into the release behaviors of potentially toxic elements from the indigenous Zn smelting slags dumping sites","authors":"Ze-Lin Xu , Mei-Chun Zhou , Jin-Hui Miao , Wen-Chu Zhao , Rong-Bing Fu , Da-Mao Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.psep.2025.107537","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Limited studies focus on the leaching behaviors of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in smelting slags dumping sites, based on mineralogical information and geochemical modelling. In this study, the occurrence patterns of PTEs were identified using mineral liberation analyzer (MLA) and Tessier speciation extraction method, and their release mechanisms were studied via the leaching tests and PHREEQC modelling. The results indicated that 60.33 % of kaolinite, 23.19 % of quartz and 1.36 % of limonite were found in soils, whereas 25.38 % of quartz, 25.86 % of biotite, and 21.54 % of Fe and Al- bearing oxides existed in smelting slags. 0.34–64.54 % of As, Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn were presented in the labile fractions, and coexisted with silicate and oxide minerals. The effects of smelting slag additions on PTEs release from soil-slag mixing systems were more obvious under extremely acidic (pH < 4) and alkaline (pH > 10.5) environment. PTEs release process was best fitted by the double constant rate equation in column leaching tests (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.92). PHREEQC results further showed that the dissolution and precipitation of PTEs hosting minerals were the potential factors to control PTEs release. Overall, this study was of great significance to pollution control and environmental management in smelting slags dumping sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20743,"journal":{"name":"Process Safety and Environmental Protection","volume":"201 ","pages":"Article 107537"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Process Safety and Environmental Protection","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957582025008043","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Limited studies focus on the leaching behaviors of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in smelting slags dumping sites, based on mineralogical information and geochemical modelling. In this study, the occurrence patterns of PTEs were identified using mineral liberation analyzer (MLA) and Tessier speciation extraction method, and their release mechanisms were studied via the leaching tests and PHREEQC modelling. The results indicated that 60.33 % of kaolinite, 23.19 % of quartz and 1.36 % of limonite were found in soils, whereas 25.38 % of quartz, 25.86 % of biotite, and 21.54 % of Fe and Al- bearing oxides existed in smelting slags. 0.34–64.54 % of As, Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn were presented in the labile fractions, and coexisted with silicate and oxide minerals. The effects of smelting slag additions on PTEs release from soil-slag mixing systems were more obvious under extremely acidic (pH < 4) and alkaline (pH > 10.5) environment. PTEs release process was best fitted by the double constant rate equation in column leaching tests (R2 > 0.92). PHREEQC results further showed that the dissolution and precipitation of PTEs hosting minerals were the potential factors to control PTEs release. Overall, this study was of great significance to pollution control and environmental management in smelting slags dumping sites.
期刊介绍:
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