Author:

Keywords:

copper slag, leaching, sediments

Abstract:

Copper slag is widely used as abrasive material for removing rust and marine deposits from ships to prepare the surface before painting. Development of shipping industry has raised an environmental concern related to the release of heavy metal from blasted copper slag in Vietnam. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the blasted copper slag (BCS) and potentially contaminated sediment samples collected nearby the shipyard in south of Van Phong bay (south-central of Vietnam). Single extractions (with CaCl2, (NH4)2EDTA, CH3COOH and NaCl) were performed to examine under which conditions As and heavy metals (HMs) may leach from the BCS and sediment. The BCS samples were mainly composed of Fe, Ca, Al and Si (percentage levels). Furthermore, BCS contained significant amounts of Cu, Zn (8416 and 8439 mg/kg respectively) and Mo, Pb, As, Cr (2399, 853, 798 and 566mg/kg respectively). Results from the single extractions suggest that As and HMs in both sediments and BCS showed a low actual mobility and were not easily mobilized by sea water and/or organic complexion. Acidification had a more pronounced effect on As and HM release both in sediments and BCS