Arsenate displacement from fly ash in amended soils

Arsenic (As) is the biggest environment contaminant in most of the soils where fly ash is applied. Usually, it is not mobile and strongly adsorbed on to soil particles. However, in gypsum and phosphorus amended soils As may be much more mobile. A study in repacked columns was conducted to determine whether or not As becomes mobile when Ca(H2PO4)(2) and CaSO4 are used as leaching solutions, and to compare the competitive interactions between PO4-AsO4 and SO4-AsO4. Arsenic concentration in leachate was found to be approximately ten times greater when Ca(H2PO4)(2) was used to leach the columns as compared to CaSO4. A maximum concentration of 800 mu g As L-1 was found in the leachate in this case, which is much higher than the groundwater limit of 50 mu g L-1 for drinking water established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In fly ash, the portion of arsenate non-specifically adsorbed is believed to be much lower than that of specifically adsorbed. Sulfate anions were able to displace only non-specifically adsorbed arsenate. In this case the concentration of As in leachate was found to be within acceptable limits. On the other hand, phosphate can compete with arsenate for all available adsorption sites, non-specific and specific. Phosphate displacement of both forms of arsenates increases As mobility in both control and fly ash treatments.