Econ. Environ. Geol. 2002; 35(3): 257-271

Published online June 30, 2002

© THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

The Effects of Carbonate Minerals in Gully-pot Sediment on the Leaching Behavior of Heavy Metals Under Acidified Environment

Pyeong-koo Lee1* and Youn-hee Yu1,2

1Dept. of Environmental Geology, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Minerals
2Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chonbuk National University

Correspondence to :

Pyeong-koo Lee

pklee@kigam.re.kr

Received: April 27, 2002; Accepted: June 14, 2002

Abstract

One of the main interests in relation to heavily contaminated gully-pot sediment in urban area is the short term mobility of heavy metals, which depends on the pH of acidic rainwater and on the buffering effects of carbonate minerals. The buffering effects of carbonates are determined by titration (acid addition). Leaching experiments are carried out in solutions with variable initial HNO3 contents for 24h. The gully-pot sediment appears to be predominantly buffered by calcite and dolomite. In case of sediment samples, which highly contain carbonates, pH decreases more slowly with increasing acidity. On the other hand, for the sediment samples, which less contain carbonate minerals, pH rapidly drops until it reaches about 2 then it decreases slowly. The leaching reactions are delayed until more acid is added to compensate for the buffering effects of carbonates. The Zn, Cu, Pb and Mn concentrations of leachate rapidly increase with decreased pH, while Cd, Co, Ni, Cr and Fe dissolutions are very slow and limited. The solubility of heavy metals depends not only on the pH values of leachate but also on the speciation in which metals are associated with sediment particles. In slightly to moderately acid conditions, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cu dissolutions become increasingly important. As deduced from leaching runs, the relative mobility of heavy metals at pH of 5 is found to be: Zn > Cd > Co > Ni > Cu >> Pb > Cr, suggesting that moderately acid rainwater leach Zn,
Cd, Co, Ni and Cu from the contaminated gully-pot sediment, while Pb and Cr would remain fixed. The buffering effects of Ca- and Mg-carbonates play an important role in delaying as well as limiting the leaching reactions of heavy metals from highly contaminated gully-pot sediment. The extent of such a secondary environmental pollution will thus depends on how well the metals in sediment can be leached by somewhat acidic rain water. Changes in the physicochemical environments may result in the severe environmental pollution of heavy metals. These results are to be taken into account in the management of contaminated sediments during rainstorms.

Keywords acid rain, leaching experiment, heavy metal, speciation

Article

Econ. Environ. Geol. 2002; 35(3): 257-271

Published online June 30, 2002

Copyright © THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY.

The Effects of Carbonate Minerals in Gully-pot Sediment on the Leaching Behavior of Heavy Metals Under Acidified Environment

Pyeong-koo Lee1* and Youn-hee Yu1,2

1Dept. of Environmental Geology, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Minerals
2Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chonbuk National University

Correspondence to:

Pyeong-koo Lee

pklee@kigam.re.kr

Received: April 27, 2002; Accepted: June 14, 2002

Abstract

One of the main interests in relation to heavily contaminated gully-pot sediment in urban area is the short term mobility of heavy metals, which depends on the pH of acidic rainwater and on the buffering effects of carbonate minerals. The buffering effects of carbonates are determined by titration (acid addition). Leaching experiments are carried out in solutions with variable initial HNO3 contents for 24h. The gully-pot sediment appears to be predominantly buffered by calcite and dolomite. In case of sediment samples, which highly contain carbonates, pH decreases more slowly with increasing acidity. On the other hand, for the sediment samples, which less contain carbonate minerals, pH rapidly drops until it reaches about 2 then it decreases slowly. The leaching reactions are delayed until more acid is added to compensate for the buffering effects of carbonates. The Zn, Cu, Pb and Mn concentrations of leachate rapidly increase with decreased pH, while Cd, Co, Ni, Cr and Fe dissolutions are very slow and limited. The solubility of heavy metals depends not only on the pH values of leachate but also on the speciation in which metals are associated with sediment particles. In slightly to moderately acid conditions, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cu dissolutions become increasingly important. As deduced from leaching runs, the relative mobility of heavy metals at pH of 5 is found to be: Zn > Cd > Co > Ni > Cu >> Pb > Cr, suggesting that moderately acid rainwater leach Zn,
Cd, Co, Ni and Cu from the contaminated gully-pot sediment, while Pb and Cr would remain fixed. The buffering effects of Ca- and Mg-carbonates play an important role in delaying as well as limiting the leaching reactions of heavy metals from highly contaminated gully-pot sediment. The extent of such a secondary environmental pollution will thus depends on how well the metals in sediment can be leached by somewhat acidic rain water. Changes in the physicochemical environments may result in the severe environmental pollution of heavy metals. These results are to be taken into account in the management of contaminated sediments during rainstorms.

Keywords acid rain, leaching experiment, heavy metal, speciation

    KSEEG
    Dec 31, 2024 Vol.57 No.6, pp. 665~835

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