Soaking and leaching experimental study on nuclides and heavy metals from zircon sand type associated radioactivity solid wastes

BackgroundThe proper disposal of solid wastes of mine associated with radioactivity has become an urgent environmental problem in Guangdong.PurposeThis study aims at the leaching characteristics, kinetic mechanism, migration and leaching distribution of nuclides and heavy metals from the associated radioactivity solid wastes for properly disposing of solid wastes.MethodsU, Th, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg and As nuclides and heavy metals from zircon sand type associated radioactivity solid wastes were taken as objects in soaking experiment, indoor soil column leaching experiment and outdoor soil column simulated landfill experiments. Migration law of pollution elements to soil and leaching distribution law of pollutants under long-term leaching were investigated.Results & ConclusionsExperimental results indicate that the highest leaching rates of U, Th, Cr, Pb, As, Cd and Hg from natural rainwater leaching experiment are 0.007 9%, 0.000 53%, 0.15%, 0.033%, 0.18%, 0.0% and 0.041%, respectively, and most of the elements from