Physical properties of a soil substitute derived from an aluminum recycling by-product

Abstract

Disposal of highly saline industrial by-products in landfills is not permitted in member states of the European Union, such as Germany. Large amounts of such by-products thus have to be disposed of in alternative ways. In many countries bare potash mining residue mounds, consisting almost entirely of rock salt (NaCl), pose environmental problems. Covering such mounds with soil or soil-like material could help to reduce the yearly amount of briny runoff. A fine-granular saline aluminum recycling by-product (ALRP) has been proposed as a soil substitute to cover rock salt residue mounds. Use of this by-product as a combined soil substitute and surface barrier is not considered to be a landfill disposal, but as a beneficial by-product reuse. To judge the feasibility of ALRP for this purpose, its properties must be known. In this study physical characteristics of an industrially produced ALRP, mixed with the flue gas desulfurization by-product (FGDP) of a coal combustion power plant, were determined. It was found that the texture of both ALRP and ALRP–FGDP mix was silt loam. Bulk densities of ALRP and ALRP–FGDP were 0.93 and 0.88 Mg m −3 and the corresponding salt contents were 50.0 and 35.5%, respectively. The erodibility factor K of pure ALRP was estimated as 0.65 Mg h ha −1 N −1. Because of the stabilizing effect of FGDP, this factor was reduced considerably in ALRP–FGDP. The water-holding capacity of unwashed ALRP was 44.5% and of washed ALRP–FGDP 61.8%. In view of its physical properties, ALRP–FGDP seems to be suitable as an evaporation enhancing, runoff reducing cover material for potash mine residue mounds, even on steep slopes. Use of ALRP, mixed with FGDP, as a soil substitute in a surface barrier, thus seems to be environmentally meaningful. However, the high salt content initially prevents plant growth. With time, after the salt has been leached, the material seems able to support plant growth, which would further reduce runoff. The physical and hydraulic parameters determined in this study may serve future users of similar by-products.