Physical Separation of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soil Simulant near Abandoned Metal Mines

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to treat heavy metals from contaminated soil simulant around abandoned mines by using physical separation techniques. As a result of magnetic separation, the average removal efficiency was shown as lead 53%, zinc 67%, arsenic 66%, and cadmium 71% and volume of highly contaminated soil was reduced by approximately 16% in the condition of more than 5,000 gauss. When the corona discharging electrostatic separation applied, the highest removal efficiency according to supplied voltages was observed as 38% for lead at –35 kV, 45% and 48% for zinc and cadmium at –30 kV, respectively and 38% for arsenic at –25 kV conditions. However, considering the cost and the volume of contaminated soil to be treated later, it was considered that the –10 kV condition was optimal.