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Constructed wetlands for steel slag leachate management: Partitioning of arsenic, chromium, and vanadium in waters, sediments, and plants

Gomes, Helena; Mayes, William M.; Whitby, Paul; Rogerson, Mike

Authors

Helena Gomes

Paul Whitby

Mike Rogerson



Abstract

© 2019 The Authors Constructed wetlands can treat highly alkaline leachate resulting from the weathering of steel slag before reuse (e.g. as aggregate)or during disposal in repositories and legacy sites. This study aimed to assess how metal(loid)s soluble at high pH, such as arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and vanadium (V)are removed in constructed wetlands and how they accumulate in the sediments and the plants (Phragmites australis, common reed). The results show that reedbeds were very effective at removing calcium (98%), aluminium (81%), barium (98%), chromium (90%), gallium (80%), nickel (98%), and zinc (98%), and lowering pH and alkalinity. No statistical difference was found for As and V between leachate influent and wetland samples, showing that these metal(loid)s were not efficiently removed. As, Cr, and V were significantly higher in the reedbed sediments than in a reference site. However, sediment concentrations are not at levels that would pose a concern regarding reuse for agricultural purposes (average values of 39 ± 26 mg kg −1 for As, 108 ± 15 mg kg −1 for Cr, and 231 ± 34 mg kg −1 for V). Also, there is no significant uptake of metals by the aboveground portions of the reeds compared to reference conditions. Results show statistically significant enrichment in metal(loid)s in rhizomes and also a seasonal effect on the Cr concentrations. The data suggest minimal risk of oxyanion-forming element uptake and cycling in wetlands receiving alkaline steel slag.

Citation

Gomes, H., Mayes, W. M., Whitby, P., & Rogerson, M. (2019). Constructed wetlands for steel slag leachate management: Partitioning of arsenic, chromium, and vanadium in waters, sediments, and plants. Journal of environmental management, 243, 30-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.127

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 30, 2019
Online Publication Date May 9, 2019
Publication Date Aug 1, 2019
Deposit Date May 3, 2019
Publicly Available Date May 31, 2019
Journal Journal of environmental management
Print ISSN 0301-4797
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 243
Pages 30-38
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.127
Keywords Alkaline drainage; Reedbeds; Passive treatment; Sediments; Phragmites australis
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1724391
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719305948
Contract Date May 8, 2019

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Copyright Statement
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.






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