Immobilization of copper, lead, and tungsten in mixed munitions firing range–contaminated soils by various amendments

Abstract

Batch and column leaching tests were conducted to assess the simultaneous stabilization of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and tungsten (W) in eight representative contaminated firing range soils in the United States using various amendments. The amendments included granulated ferric oxide (GFO), granulated titanium dioxide (GTD), Pahokee peat soil (PPS), Gascoyne leonardite soil (GLS), Elliot silty loam soil (ESLS), calcium phosphate monobasic (CPM), and apatite II. The metal oxides and the organic soil amendments were applied at a dosage of 10%, and phosphates were applied at phosphorus to lead (P/Pb) molar ratio of 1.8. The experimental results indicated that GFO was superior to all materials tested for simultaneously stabilizing Cu, Pb, and W during the batch leaching tests. Flow-through column tests were conducted for one of the soil samples to test the effectiveness of GFO to immobilize Cu, Pb, and W. The concentrations of Cu, Pb, and W were significantly reduced in the effluent of the amended soil columns as compared with the control soil columns.