Evaluation of Heavy Metal Solubilization in Solid Waste Landfill Layers

Takeshi Kurokawa*, Toshiko Komatsu** and Takehiko Fukushima**
* Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kure National College of Technology
** Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University
+ Correspondence should be addressed to Takeshi Kurokawa:
(2-2-11 Aga-Minami, Kure-city, Hiroshima 737-8506 Japan)

Abstract
There is an increasing potential of heavy metal pollution from landfill sites in which the incinerator ash with high heavy metal content is disposed. However, elution of heavy metals from landfill sites has rarely been detected. The purpose of this study is to investigate heavy metal insolubilization in the landfill site, by batch and column experiments, using incinerator ash under semi-aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Under both conditions, sulfate reduction and subsequent heavy metal insolubilization by sulfide did not take place, while heavy metal precipitation in the form of hydroxide, as well as complex salt, and also coprecipitation with Ca2<, were observed.

Key words: incinerator ash, heavy metal, solubilization, sulfate reduction reaction, precipitation