Feasibility of a counter-current extraction procedure for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils

Effective remediation and sanitation technologies for soils contaminated with heavy metals are limited. We investigated the feasibility of a counter-current metal extraction procedure for the removal of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) from two contaminated soils. The process involved a decarbonation (removal of carbonates), acid solubilisation, washing, and liming step. Results from batch equilibration experiments simulating the counter-current process showed more than 85% of the Cd present to be removed. Removal efficiencies for Cu and Pb were limited to approximately 15%, this mainly due to resorption of these elements during the decarbonation step. As most Zn was found to be present in a more difficult acid-extractable solid phase, its extractability accounted for only 25%. While reaction (pH) conditions of both decarbonation and solubilisation determined removal efficiencies, washing the extracted soil with deionized water only slightly increased the amount of metals removed. Metal distribution among sold phases - exchangeable, carbonate, reducible, organically bound, and residual - was affected by the different treatments. The amount of metals contained in the exchangeable and residual fractions determined their extractability. Except for Cu, the reducible and organically bound fractions were less important. After solubilisation 13 to 70% of the metals were present in an exchangeable solid phase. This implicates that washing the solubilized soil with a salt may increase the extractability of metals, especially for Zn and Pb. Based on our results the process is critically evaluated and possibilities for optimization formulated.