Heavy metal content of the Keban lead plant slag and movement of metals in soil of the surrounding region

The heavy metal content of the Keban lead plant (KLP) slag, its variation with time under rain and snow, the capacity of the Keban region soil to remove heavy metal ions, and the distribution of these metals in soil were investigated. For this purpose, the dilute acetic acid extraction test of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was applied to the slag samples and amounts of heavy metals extracted with hot (80 °C) 4 M HNO3 from soil samples at different depths were determined. The concentrations of heavy metal ions in the soil varied with depth, and the heavy metal content of the slag changed with time, showing effects of rain and melt water from snow. From the observed relationships, which take into account the heavy metal content of the slag and the capacity of the soil to remove metal ions leached from the slag, it was concluded that KLP slag from different sites can be applied to land.