Treatment Methods for Mitigation of High Alkalinity in Leachates of Aged Steel Slag
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 2
Abstract
Steel slag, a by-product of the steel-making industry, after it is aged, has a huge potential for use as a replacement of natural aggregates in highway construction. However, the high pH of leachates from aged steel slags is a major impediment for its beneficial use. This study hypothesized that minimizing hydration of CaO-containing mineral phases in slag can reduce leachate alkalinity. Treatment methods that include coating steel slag with bitumen, bathing steel slag in either Fe(III), Al(III), or , and mixing steel slag with an alum-based drinking water treatment residual (WTR) were designed and evaluated based on reduction in Ca release, pH, and alkalinity in the leachate of treated steel slag samples. According to batch-type 18-h water leach test results, bitumen coating (4% of dry weight) and passivation (0.05–0.10 M as Al) were able to reduce Ca release 50–70% and the levels of alkalinity mitigation were proportional to the reductions in Ca release. WTR addition provided the most successful treatment method; 84% of the Ca release and 71% of the original slag alkalinity were reduced upon WTR addition as low as 10% by dry weight; leachate pH reduced by approximately 1 unit.
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Acknowledgments
The funding for this project was provided by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). Additional funding for the primary author was provided by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education (MEB). All support is gratefully acknowledged. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SHA and MEB.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 2 • February 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 2, 2014
Accepted: Jul 24, 2015
Published online: Sep 18, 2015
Published in print: Feb 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Feb 18, 2016
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