Abstract
Old metallurgical dumps across Europe represent a loss of valuable land and a potential threat to the environment, especially to groundwater (GW). The Javornik electric arc furnace (EAF) and ladle slag heap, situated in Slovenia, was investigated in this study. The environmental impact of the slag heap was evaluated by combining leaching characterization tests of landfill samples and geochemical modelling. It was shown that throughout the landfill the same minerals and sorptive phases control the leaching of elements of potential concern, despite variations in chemical composition. Although carbonation of the disposed steel slags occurred (molar ratio CO3/(Ca+Mg) = 0.53) relative to fresh slag, it had a limited effect on the leaching behaviour of elements of potential concern. The leaching from the slag heaps had also a limited effect on the quality of the GW. A site-specific case, however, was that leachates from the slag heap were strongly diluted, since a rapid flow of GW fed from the nearby Sava River was observed in the landfill area. The sampling and testing approach applied provides a basis for assessing the long-term impact of release and is a good starting point for evaluating future management options, including beneficial uses for this type of slag.
Highlights
This study used characterization leaching tests and geochemical speciation modelling to assess the long-term environmental impact of a steel slag heap (Javornik, Slovenia) containing ladle slags and electric arc furnace (EAF) slag resulting from the production of carbon and stainless steel
Detailed mineralogical characterization by XRF and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)/EDS confirms the presence of spinel, dicalcium silicate, calcium aluminates, periclase and brownmillerite, all of which are minerals typically found in steel slags
The carbonation had a limited effect on the leaching behaviour of the elements observed, on the elements of environmental concern
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. There are between 150,000 and 500,000 historic and active landfills in Europe, many of which are located in urban and semi-urban environments [1,2,3]. Inorganic wastes, such as mined waste rock, low grade stockpiles, tailings and metallurgical slag have previously been disposed in these landfills [4]. In the last few decades metallurgical slag, especially that coming from ironmaking and steelmaking, have been widely used in various fields, e.g., cement production, road building and restoration of the marine environment [5], many old metallurgical dumps still exist across
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