Abstract
This research investigates the effect of synthesized zeolite on stabilizing Cd-contaminated soil,
using 0.01 M CaCl leaching solution in batch and column experiments. The zeolite was 2
synthesized from fly ash obtained from a Coal-Fired Power Plant, by adding 2 N NaOH and
. subjecting to 908C for 24 h. The experiment used two groups of soil samples: 1 addition of Cd to
. four series of background soils: Pinchen, Jente, Erlin and Chengchung; 2 actual contaminated
soils from Chungsing and Tsasta sites. The result of the batch experiment indicates that the
addition of zeolite reduces Cd leaching from all types of contaminated soils. The more zeolite
added, the lower Cd concentrations were detected in the leaching solution. The stabilized Cd in
soils in the presence of zeolite is also demonstrated in the column experiments; the leachate
contains insignificant Cd, and Cd depth analysis of the soil columns shows little Cd migration. For
example, for Pinchen and Jente soils, after 12 and 49 pore volumes of leaching solution, the
remaining Cd levels in the soils were 12% and 35%, respectively, of the original Cd values with
no zeolite added, as compared to 96% and 99% in the presence of 16% zeolite. The higher cation
exchange capacity of the zeolitersoil mixtures and higher pH are responsible for stabilizing Cd in
soils. The effect is most useful in application to the acidic sandy soils to prevent contaminated
heavy metals from leaching. q1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.