Stabilization of Oxidic Tailings and Contaminated Soils by Calcium Oxyphosphate Addition: The Case of Montevecchio (Sardinia, Italy)

The effectiveness of an in situ heavy metals fixation technique aimed at converting contaminants to low solubility and low bioavail-ability forms, eliminating the risk posed by oxidic tailings and contaminated soils, was investigated. Calcium oxyphosphate salt (Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O) was used as a stabilizing agent for oxidic tailings and contaminated soils originating from Montevecchio, Sardinia, Italy. Stabilization was effected by mixing the contaminated soil or oxidic tailing sample with calcium oxyphosphate salt at various doses. The effectiveness of stabilization was evaluated by USEPA TCLP standard toxicity testing. Complementary EDTA extraction tests and biological tests using beans Phaseolous vulgaris as plant indicator were carried out. The toxicity of Pb and Cd was reduced below TCLP regulatory limits at calcium oxyphosphate doses higher than 0.7 and 0.2% w/w for soils and tailings, respectively. Lead solubility according to the EDTA test decreased with phosphate dose for both materials tested. Lead u...