Myriam Chartier

Partitioning of trace metals before and after biological removal of metals from sediments

Metal removal by biological solubilization in three strongly contaminated sediments was carried out in a two-liter stirred bioreactor. Biological treatment yielded metal removal efficiencies in the range of 11-30%, 43-57%, 60-79%, 61-90%, 18-21%, 0-10% for Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cr, respectively. The treated sediments were then rinsed with a NaCl solution (0.5 M), resulting in an increase by nearly 47% in Pb removal for the three sediments, while for other metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr), the NaCl rinse did not seem to allow any significant increase in metal solubilization. A standard procedure of sequential selective extraction (SSE) was applied to the sediments before and after each treatment. With regard to Pb, Zn and Cd, the carbonate bound fractions (2/3 sediments) represented 18-42% of metals prior to treatment, while the iron and manganese oxides bound fraction constituted 39-60% of metals for the three sediments. Between 90 and 100% of Pb, Zn and Cd removed by the process came from the fractions bound to carbonates and from those bound to Fe and Mn oxides. The organic matter and sulfide bound fractions contained 65-72% of total Cu present before treatment and the process removed, on average, 63% Cu present in this fraction. In contrast, Ni and Cr were found mainly in the residual fractions (50-80%). Finally, this biological treatment did not solubilize Cr appreciably, while removal of Ni mostly originated from the carbonate and Fe/Mn oxides fractions (70-80%).

Strategies to maximize the microbial leaching of lead from metal-contaminated aquatic sediments

Different strategies designed to increase the removal of Pb were tested during the application of a biological remediation procedure to treat highly-contaminated aquatic sediments. The use of FeCl2 instead of FeSO4·7H2O as a substrate for thiobacilli bacteria did not interfere with the biological solubilization process which occurred in sediments acidified to pH 4 with H2SO4. With FeCl2, twice as much Pb was solubilized (5 mg Pb l−1) compared to the same strain acclimated to FeSO4·7H2O. With FeCl2, the solubilization of other trace metals (Cu,Zn) was similar to that obtained with the strain acclimated to FeSO4·7H2O. If the sediments were acidified with HCl, rather than H2SO4, then the solubilization of Pb increased to 11 mg Pb l−1: this was five times greater than when a strain acclimated to FeSO4·7H2O was used in sediments acidified with H2SO4. Theoretical calculations with MINEQL+ (chemical equilibrium program) predicted 10.8 mg Pb l−1 under similar conditions. This biological solubilization process was generally poorly adaptable to changes in the source of acidity (i.e. HCl vs H2SO4). The solubilization of Cu remained relatively low (solubilization of only 35% after 72 h) since the inadequately low levels of sulphate prevented the Thiobacillus bacteria from properly developing. Finally, the higher concentration of chloride ions gained through an increased level of total solids (7% rather than 3% TS) did not increase the soluble concentration of Pb. The soluble concentration of Pb remained at 11 mg Pb l−1 (46%), whereas theory predicted a concentration of 24.1 (100%) mg Pb l−1. Most of the experimental results seemed to follow the theoretically predicted outcome for Pb solubilization. There is more work to do to optimize the process. However, this work reveals that it seems possible to develop an economical process for the removal of Pb from contaminated sediments.

Major factors influencing bacterial leaching of heavy metals (Cu and Zn) from anaerobic sludge

Anaerobically digested sewage sludges were treated for heavy metal removal through a biological solubilization process called bacterial leaching (bioleaching). The solubilization of copper and zinc from these sludges is described in this study: using continuously stirred tank reactors with and without sludge recycling at different mean hydraulic residence times (1, 2, 3 and 4 days). Significant linear equations were established for the solubilization of zinc and copper according to relevant parameters: oxygen reduction potential (ORP), pH and residence time (t). Zinc solubilization was related to the residence time with a r2 (explained variance) of 0.82. Considering only t=2 and 3 days explained variance of 0.31 and 0.24 were found between zinc solubilization as a function of ORP and pH indicating a minor importance of those two factors for this metal in the range of pH and ORP experimented. Cu solubilization was weakly correlated to mean hydraulic residence time (r2=0.48), while it was highly correlated to ORP (r2=0.80) and pH (r2=0.62) considering only t of 2 and 3 days in the case of pH and ORP. The ORP dependence of Cu solubilization has been clearly demonstrated in this study. In addition to this, the importance of the substrate concentration for Cu solubilization has been confirmed. The hypothesis of a biological solubilization of Cu by the indirect mechanism has been supported. The results permit, under optimum conditions, the drawing of linear equations which will allow prediction of metal solubilization efficiencies from the parameters pH (Cu), ORP (Cu) and residence time (Cu and Zn), during the treatment. The linear regressions will be a useful tool for routine operation of the process.

Combined column and cell flotation process for the treatment of PAH contaminated hazardous wastes produced by an aluminium production plant

The aluminium electrolytic plants generate PAH and fluoride contaminated wastes which are usually classified as hazardous material. These residues are generally disposed in secure landfill sites. A flotation cell process was previously developed to remove PAH from these aluminium industry wastes. The tests were done on composite samples made of particle size fractions under 50mm. The efficiency of the flotation cell process was demonstrated but the high quantity of concentrate produced (14.0%) during the air injection period, because of the solid entrainment, raised the treatment cost. The aim of this study was to reduce the entrainment of fine particles in order to obtain an efficient and economic technology. The process initially developed was modified: the smallest particle size fraction (<0.5mm) of the composite sample was treated in a flotation column, whereas the other particle size fractions (0.5-50mm) were treated in a flotation cell. The separated treatment allowed to reduce the entrainment during the air injection period of the flotation cell step from 14.0% to 10.1%. The optimum total solids of the pulp and cocamidopropylhydroxysultaine (CAS) concentration were 3.33% and 0.50% (ww(-1)) for the flotation column, and 15% and 0.25% (ww(-1)) for the flotation cell. This combined flotation process minimized the total entrainment which allowed a 23.6% abatement of the concentrate quantity initially produced, and reduced the PAH concentrations of the wastes under the authorized limit of 1000 mg kg(-1).

Remediation of Contaminated Dredged Sediments Using Physical Separation Techniques

Physical separation processes constitute a cost-effective approach to remediate contaminated sediments. A laboratory-scale physical separation process using froth flotation, Wilfley table (WT), and physical separation column (PSC) as the key unit operations was studied using Sandy Beach sediments (Gaspé, Canada) contaminated with metals, mainly copper (Cu), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Copper was distributed (89-96%) mainly in the fractions <250 μm, whereas PAHs were mainly in the sand, coarse particles, and gravel. Froth flotation was found to be effective for separating both Cu and PAHs simultaneously from fractions < 250 μm. WT (0.25-2 mm) and PSC (> 2 mm) were more effective for PAH removal than Cu removal. Overall, the treatment process resulted in a cleaned sediment recovery of 74-75% (w/w) with the following pollutants removed: 71-80% PAHs, 61-65% Cu, 27-33% Zn, and 36-40% Pb.

Optimization of Operating Parameters for the Selective Flotation of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Fine Sediment Using Response Surface Model

In this study, the effect of different flotation operating variables, such as pH, pulp density, collector concentration, impeller speed, frother concentration, and air flow rate, on selective flotation of heavy metals, especially Cu, from fine dredged sediment has been evaluated. Parameter optimization was done using the single parameter at a time method and response surface method (RSM) using Box-Behnken design and was assessed in terms of metal removal, metal recovery, metal concentration factor, and mass recovery. Among the operating variables studied, pulp pH, collector concentration, pulp density, and impeller speed were found to have significant effect on metal flotation selectivity. A validation study of the response surface model showed its aptness to predict the optimum values of operating parameters and their interactions on flotation responses which evaluate flotation performance. Flotation experiments under optimum operating parameters showed good flotation selectivity for Cu (3.3 ± 0.2) with a mass recovery of (mass of sediment in the froth) 14.1 ± 1 and Cu removal of 37.4 ± 3.6%.

Pilot-Scale Decontamination of Soil Polluted with As, Cr, Cu, PCP, and PCDDF by Attrition and Alkaline Leaching.

AbstractRecently, an efficient and promising process was developed to allow the removal of As, Cr, Cu, pentachlorophenol (PCP), and polychlorodibenzo-dioxins and furans (PCDDF) from soil using alka...

Study of the factors influencing the metals solubilisation from a mixture of waste batteries by response surface methodology.

ABSTRACT This paper presents an innovative process for the recovery of valuable metals from a mixture of spent batteries. Different types of batteries, including alkaline, zinc-carbon (Zn-C), nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium ion (Li-ion) and lithium metallic (Li-M) batteries, were mixed according to the proportion of the Canadian sales of batteries. A Box-Behnken design was applied to find the optimum leaching conditions allowing a maximum of valuable metal removals from a mixture of spent batteries in the presence of an inorganic acid and a reducing agent. The results highlighted the positive effect of sodium metabisulfite on the performance of metals removal, especially for Mn. The solid/liquid ratio and the concentration of H2SO4 were the main factors affecting the leaching behavior of valuable metals (Zn, Mn, Cd, Ni) present in spent batteries. Finally, the optimum leaching conditions were found as follows: one leaching step, solid/liquid ratio = 10.9%, [H2SO4] = 1.34 M, sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) = 0.45 g/g of battery powder and retention time = 45 min. Under such conditions, the removal yields achieved were 94% for Mn, 81% for Cd, 99% for Zn, 96% for Co and 68% for Ni.

Improvement of a three-step process for the treatment of aluminium hazardous wastes containing PAHs (benzo[b,j,k]fluoranthene and chrysene) and fluoride

Hazardous wastes from a primary aluminium production plant could be decontaminated by a three-step process. First, the PAHs contained in these wastes were extracted with an amphoteric surfactant (0.25% or 0.50% w/w of cocamidopropylhydroxysultaine [CAS]) by cell or column flotation, depending on the particle size fraction (under or above 500 μm). Then, the fluorides were stabilized with lime (8% w/w) or a mixture of lime (4% w/w) and phosphoric acid (0.95% w/w). The decontaminated wastes satisfied the Quebec PAH norm, fixed at 1000 mg kg−1, with values of 900±352 mg kg−1 and 624±179 mg kg−1 for benzo(b,j,k)fluoranthene (BJK) at laboratory and pilot scales, respectively. The fluoride stabilization in the treated wastes was characterized by TCLP values of 138±67 mg F− L−1 and 29.5±7.6 mg F− L−1 for laboratory and pilot experiments, which were under the Quebec norm (<150 mg F− L−1). Finally, the metals in the process effluent were recovered by precipitation with sulphuric acid (10% v/v), and the final effluent and metallic residue obtained were recirculated without liquid fraction enrichment impact. The whole process was successfully tested at pilot scale. The preliminary economic study showed the potential of the process for the treatment of aluminium hazardous wastes.

Solid/Liquid Separation of Pig Manure by Biological Flotation: Pilot-Scale Study

Many problems are associated with pig manure production like high biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents. Manure produces may be used in land spreading for agricultural purposes. Over application of liquid manure or runoff caused by precipitation contribute notably to surface or overland flow of phosphorus. In this study, the LISOX process is proposed for use in medium size farms, namely a 2,000-head swine farm. The LISOX process uses biological passive flotation, without any gas addition, to enable the flocs to rise to the surface. Results show that this technology is able to considerably reduce the solids content in the final effluent to 1.1±0.3% and reached solids content of 17.9±2.6% in the combined solid manure obtained at the end of the LISOX process. Total phosphorus ( Pt ) concentrations have been reduced from 1,234±428 mg/L to 146±46 mg/L in the final effluent, while a value of Pt of 20.6±7.9 g/kg has been obtained in the final solid fraction of the t...