Soil Lead Immobilization Using Phosphate Rock

Phosphate compounds of lead (Pb) are highly insoluble and their formation in contaminated soils would aid immobilization of Pb. The goal of the current research was to evaluate the immobilization of Pb by various treatments of phosphate rock on contaminated agricultural soils typical of Taiwan, and to determine the optimal amount of phosphate rock for use in field application. Samples of contaminated soil, each containing Pb concentrations ranging from 346 to 1873 mg kg−1 were collected from arable land near a ceramic products manufacturing factory. Both batch immobilization experiments and in situ remediation were completed using phosphate rock additives. Results of the batch experiments demonstrate that the phosphate rock was effective in reducing Pb extractable by 0.1 M HCl, with a minimum reduction of 33–97% after 8 days of reaction, for initial Pb concentrations up to 1873 mg kg−1. HCl-extractable Pb did not decrease after an additional 2-day reaction with a greater phosphate rock loading. It was also found that the reaction time had less effect on Pb immobilization than the amount of phosphate rock added. Results from in situ remediation experiments indicate that soil-extractable Pb was reduced by 93% (mean; range 85.2–97.2%), which is comparable with the results of the batch study. Additionally, the soil pH was increased from 6.25 (mean; range 5.96–6.76) to 7.2 (mean; range 6.92–7.53) after remediation. Based upon the HCl-extractable Pb content and the amount of phosphate rock added, various linear log-linear regression curves were obtained. These predictive equations have been used for field application. Our field results demonstrate that phosphate rocks have a potential to cost-effectively treat Pb-contaminated soils in Taiwan.