Evaluation and analysis of soil washing for seven lead-contaminated soils

A bench-scale study of seven Pb-contaminated soils from actual sites was undertaken to determine the feasibility of soil washing to meet cleanup goals. In addition, soil characteristics and operational factors affecting washing performance were identified. Soils were characterized by a sequential extraction method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Following a treatment process that consisted of particle size and density separation, and batch soil washing, soil Pb treatment goals were met for five of the seven sandy soils. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) limits were met for all soils. In soil washing, the most important factor affecting removal of Pb was pH, with greater removals observed at a lower pH. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) addition significantly improved soil-washing performance at pH 3, and the temperature and liquid-to-solid (US) ratio had a minimal effect for the range of conditions studied. Washing results were in qualitative agreement with expectations extrapolated from the soil-characterization data. However, definitive identification and distribution of the Pb-binding mechanisms in these real waste-site soils could not be ascertained from the sequential extraction or SEM data.