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Screening of heavy metal containing waste types for use as raw material in Arctic clay-based bricks

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Abstract

In the vulnerable Arctic environment, the impact of especially hazardous wastes can have severe consequences and the reduction and safe handling of these waste types are therefore an important issue. In this study, two groups of heavy metal containing particulate waste materials, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly and bottom ashes and mine tailings (i.e., residues from the mineral resource industry) from Greenland were screened in order to determine their suitability as secondary resources in clay-based brick production. Small clay discs, containing 20 or 40% of the different particulate waste materials, were fired and material properties and heavy metal leaching tests were conducted before and after firing. Remediation techniques (washing in distilled water and electrodialytical treatment) applied to the fly ash reduced leaching before firing. The mine tailings and bottom ash brick discs obtained satisfactory densities (1669–2007 kg/m3) and open porosities (27.9–39.9%). In contrast, the fly ash brick discs had low densities (1313–1578 kg/m3) and high open porosities (42.1–51. %). However, leaching tests on crushed brick discs revealed that heavy metals generally became more available after firing for all the investigated materials and that further optimisation is therefore necessary prior to incorporation in bricks.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Government of Greenland, DTU Civil engineering and the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. Louise Belmonte wishes to thank Angel Mining Plc. and Kurt Christensen for the opportunity to visit the Nalunaq gold mine and for help and assistance during the stay and with collecting the tailings samples. The authors wish to thank Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S for providing the Tanbreez tailings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arctic Technology Centre, DTU Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

    Louise Josefine Belmonte, Lisbeth M. Ottosen, Gunvor Marie Kirkelund & Pernille Erland Jensen

  2. Danish Technological Institute, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark

    Andreas Peter Vestbø

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  1. Louise Josefine Belmonte
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  2. Lisbeth M. Ottosen
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  3. Gunvor Marie Kirkelund
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  4. Pernille Erland Jensen
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  5. Andreas Peter Vestbø
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Correspondence to Gunvor Marie Kirkelund.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Belmonte, L.J., Ottosen, L.M., Kirkelund, G.M. et al. Screening of heavy metal containing waste types for use as raw material in Arctic clay-based bricks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 32831–32843 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8040-z

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