Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes

An attenuation layer composed of ground mixed with stabilising agents can prevent the contamination of the surrounding area when using soils and rocks with geogenic contaminants in embankments. The optimum particle size of the stabilising agent must be selected based on the requirements of the const...

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Main Authors: Lincoln W. Gathuka, Haruka Kasai, Tomohiro Kato, Atsushi Takai, Toru Inui, Takeshi Katsumi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-06-01
Series:Soils and Foundations
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038080622000385
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author Lincoln W. Gathuka
Haruka Kasai
Tomohiro Kato
Atsushi Takai
Toru Inui
Takeshi Katsumi
author_facet Lincoln W. Gathuka
Haruka Kasai
Tomohiro Kato
Atsushi Takai
Toru Inui
Takeshi Katsumi
author_sort Lincoln W. Gathuka
collection DOAJ
description An attenuation layer composed of ground mixed with stabilising agents can prevent the contamination of the surrounding area when using soils and rocks with geogenic contaminants in embankments. The optimum particle size of the stabilising agent must be selected based on the requirements of the construction site because the mechanical and chemical properties of the attenuation layer are site-specific. However, the relationship between the particle size of the stabilising agent and the attenuation performance of soil–agent mixtures has yet to be fully clarified. This study employs batch sorption tests to evaluate the attenuation of arsenic by a soil mixed with a calcium–magnesium composite with different particle sizes, ranging from powder particles (<0.075 mm in size) to granular particles with diameters between 2.0 and 9.5 mm. Amended soil more effectively attenuates the contaminant than the original soil. In one experiment, a stabilising agent of granular particles (between 2.0 and 9.5 mm) for the amendment increased the soil’s partition coefficient Kd from 14.5 to 22.2 cm3/g, which is more than a 50% improvement in the attenuation. Using a stabilising agent with a smaller particle size for the amendment has a greater impact. Kd increases linearly as the particle size of the stabilising agent decreases down to 0.075 mm. Using the Kd from laboratory tests, simulations with a one-dimensional advection–dispersion equation demonstrate the durability of the attenuation layer. Both the powder and the granular particles show promise as attenuation layer materials.
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spelling doaj.art-24a54cef847e43b7b40290fe6559323c2022-12-22T02:11:21ZengElsevierSoils and Foundations2524-17882022-06-01623101130Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizesLincoln W. Gathuka0Haruka Kasai1Tomohiro Kato2Atsushi Takai3Toru Inui4Takeshi Katsumi5Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Corresponding author.Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita-shi, Osaka 565-0871, JapanGraduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanAn attenuation layer composed of ground mixed with stabilising agents can prevent the contamination of the surrounding area when using soils and rocks with geogenic contaminants in embankments. The optimum particle size of the stabilising agent must be selected based on the requirements of the construction site because the mechanical and chemical properties of the attenuation layer are site-specific. However, the relationship between the particle size of the stabilising agent and the attenuation performance of soil–agent mixtures has yet to be fully clarified. This study employs batch sorption tests to evaluate the attenuation of arsenic by a soil mixed with a calcium–magnesium composite with different particle sizes, ranging from powder particles (<0.075 mm in size) to granular particles with diameters between 2.0 and 9.5 mm. Amended soil more effectively attenuates the contaminant than the original soil. In one experiment, a stabilising agent of granular particles (between 2.0 and 9.5 mm) for the amendment increased the soil’s partition coefficient Kd from 14.5 to 22.2 cm3/g, which is more than a 50% improvement in the attenuation. Using a stabilising agent with a smaller particle size for the amendment has a greater impact. Kd increases linearly as the particle size of the stabilising agent decreases down to 0.075 mm. Using the Kd from laboratory tests, simulations with a one-dimensional advection–dispersion equation demonstrate the durability of the attenuation layer. Both the powder and the granular particles show promise as attenuation layer materials.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038080622000385Attenuation layer methodArsenicBatch sorption testPartition coefficientSpecific surface areaGeogenic contamination
spellingShingle Lincoln W. Gathuka
Haruka Kasai
Tomohiro Kato
Atsushi Takai
Toru Inui
Takeshi Katsumi
Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes
Soils and Foundations
Attenuation layer method
Arsenic
Batch sorption test
Partition coefficient
Specific surface area
Geogenic contamination
title Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes
title_full Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes
title_fullStr Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes
title_short Evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium–magnesium composites of different particle sizes
title_sort evaluating the arsenic attenuation of soil amended with calcium magnesium composites of different particle sizes
topic Attenuation layer method
Arsenic
Batch sorption test
Partition coefficient
Specific surface area
Geogenic contamination
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038080622000385
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