Chelant-assisted pulse flushing of a field Pb-contaminated soil

Laboratory experiments on a lead-contaminated soil were carried out to test the effects of chelant addition on metal leachability using column tests. Tests were aimed at studying metal mobilisation upon application of two different chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA] and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid [EDDS]). Column operation was arranged to simulate a flushing treatment in which the chelating agent is applied in a pulse mode to the soil for one bed volume, while deionised water was continuously introduced for the rest of the experiment. Two different concentrations (3 and 5 mmol·kg −1 respectively) of the two chelating agents and a control solution (deionised water) were tested in separate experiments; pH, total organic carbon and the total concentrations of Pb, Zn, Fe, Cd, Cu and Ni were monitored during each run. A seven-step sequential extraction procedure was used to evaluate metal partitioning and concentration in the contaminated soil after treatment as a function of depth. The results showed the effect of the nature of flushing solution on the hydraulic behaviour of the columns. Metal concentrations in the leachate increased considerably upon the application of chelants, thus indicating their suitability for metal extraction from contaminated soils. In view of full-scale application of soil flushing, particular concern should also be devoted to ensuring a homogeneous distribution of the solution within the contaminated area and an efficient collection of the exhausted extracting solution, as well as to recovering and recycling the chelating agent used.