Leaching behaviour of different scrap materials at recovery and recycling companies: full-, pilot- and lab-scale investigation

E Blondeel; M Chys; V Depuydt; K Folens; G Du Laing; A Verliefde; S W H Van Hulle

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2014.08.019

Leaching behaviour of different scrap materials at recovery and recycling companies: full-, pilot- and lab-scale investigation

Waste Manag. 2014 Dec;34(12):2674-86. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2014.08.019. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Authors

E Blondeel¹, M Chys², V Depuydt³, K Folens⁴, G Du Laing⁴, A Verliefde⁵, S W H Van Hulle⁶

Affiliations

¹ LIWET, Department of Industrial Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
² LIWET, Department of Industrial Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium; BIOMATH, Department of Mathematical Modeling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
³ Flanders Knowledge Centre Water (Vlakwa vzw), Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 34, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
⁴ Ecochem, Department of Applied Analytical and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
⁵ PaInT, Department of Applied Analytical and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium; Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, NL-2628CN Delft, The Netherlands.
⁶ LIWET, Department of Industrial Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium; BIOMATH, Department of Mathematical Modeling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Stijn.VanHulle@UGent.be.

PMID: 25241019
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2014.08.019

Abstract

Scrap material recovery and recycling companies are confronted with waste water that has a highly fluctuating flow rate and composition. Common pollutants, such as COD, nutrients and suspended solids, potentially toxic metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and poly chlorinated biphenyls can exceed the discharge limits. An analysis of the leaching behaviour of different scrap materials and scrap yard sweepings was performed at full-scale, pilot-scale and lab-scale in order to find possible preventive solutions for this waste water problem. The results of these leaching tests (with concentrations that frequently exceeded the Flemish discharge limits) showed the importance of regular sweeping campaigns at the company, leak proof or covered storage of specific scrap materials and oil/water separation on particular leachates. The particulate versus dissolved fraction was also studied for the pollutants. For example, up to 98% of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons, poly chlorinated biphenyls and some metals were in the particulate form. This confirms the (potential) applicability of sedimentation and filtration techniques for the treatment of the majority of the leachates, and as such the rainwater run-off as a whole.

Keywords: Leaching behaviour; Polluted rainwater run-off; Scrap materials.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Filtration
Industrial Waste / analysis*
Recycling
Solid Waste / analysis*
Waste Disposal, Fluid*
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Industrial Waste
Solid Waste
Water Pollutants, Chemical