Mechanistic insights into Pb and sulfates retention in ordinary Portland cement and aluminous cement: Assessing the contributions from binders and solid waste

Identifying immobilization mechanisms of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is of paramount importance in the field application of solidification/stabilization. Traditionally, demanding and extensive experiments are required to better access the underlying retention mechanisms, which are usually challenging to quantify and clarify precisely. Herein, we present a geochemical model with parametric fitting techniques to reveal the solidification/stabilization of Pb-rich pyrite ash through conventional (ordinary Portland cement) and alternative (calcium aluminate cement) binders. We found that ettringite and calcium silicate hydrates exhibit strong affinities for Pb at alkaline conditions. When the hydration products are unable to stabilize all the soluble Pb in the system, part of the soluble Pb may be immobilized as Pb(OH)2. At acidic and neutral conditions, hematite from pyrite ash and newly-formed ferrihydrite are the main controlling factors of Pb, coupled with anglesite and cerussite precipitation. Thus, this work provides a much-needed complement to this widely-applied solid waste remediation technique for the development of more sustainable mixture formulations. [Display omitted] •A geochemical model with an adsorption parameter fitting function was developed.•Provide an in-depth understanding of Pb and sulfate retention in a broad pH range.•The competitiveness of precipitation and sorption for Pb retention was clarified.•Aluminous cement showed relatively high compatibility with Pb immobilization.