Speciation of toxic pollutants in Pb/Zn smelter slags by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy in the context of the literature

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132373

Authors: Dan Ting Chen (University of College London) , Amitava Roy (Louisiana State University Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices) , Yu Qian Li (University of College London) , Anna Bogush (University of College London) , Wing Yin Au (University of College London) , Julia A. Stegemann (University College London)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of Hazardous Materials , VOL 8

State: Published (Approved)
Published: August 2023
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 11156

Abstract: Pb/Zn smelter slag is a hazardous industrial waste from the Imperial Smelting Process (ISP). The speciation of zinc, lead, copper and arsenic in the slag controls their recovery or fate in the environment but has been little investigated. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) was applied to this complex poorly crystalline material for the first time to gain new insights about speciation of elements at low concentration. Zn, Cu, As K-edge and Pb L3-edge XAS was carried out for a Pb/Zn slag from a closed ISP facility in England, supported by Fe, S and P K-edge XAS. Results are presented in the context of a full review of the literature. X-ray fluorescence showed that concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu and As were 8.4, 1.6, 0.48 and 0.45 wt.%, respectively. Wüstite (FeO) was the only crystalline phase identified by X-ray diffraction, but XAS provided a more complete understanding of the matrix. Zn was found to be mainly present in glass, ZnS, and possibly solid solutions with Fe oxides; Pb was mainly present in glass and apatite minerals (e.g., Pb5(PO4)3OH); Cu was mainly speciated as Cu2S, with some metallic Cu and a weathering product, Cu(OH)2; As speciation was likely dominated by arsenic (III) and (V) oxides and sulfides.

Journal Keywords: Imperial Smelting Furnace; smelter slag; toxic contaminants; mineralogy; utilisation

Subject Areas: Materials, Chemistry, Environment


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS

Added On: 25/08/2023 09:29

Documents:
1-s2.0-S0304389423016564-main.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Desertification & Pollution Earth Sciences & Environment Chemistry Materials Science Inorganic Chemistry

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)