The proper disposal of Lead-Zinc Smelting Slag (LZSS) having toxic metals is a great challenge for a sustainable environment. In the present study, this challenge was overcome by its solidification/stabilization through alkali-activated cementitious material i.e., Blast Furnace Slag (BFS). The different parameters (water glass modulus, liquid-solid ratio and curing temperature) regarding strength development were optimized through single factor and orthogonal experiments. The LZSS was solidified in samples that had the highest compressive strength (after factor optimization) synthesized with (AASB) and without (AAS) bentonite as an adsorbent material. The results indicated that the highest compressive strength (AAS = 92.89MPa and AASB = 94.57MPa) was observed in samples which were prepared by using a water glass modulus of 1.4, liquid-solid ratio of 0.26 and a curing temperature of 25 °C. The leaching concentrations of Pb and Zn in both methods (sulfuric and nitric acid, and TCLP) had not exceeded the toxicity limits up to 70% addition of LZSS due to a higher compressive strength (>60 MPa) of AAS and AASB samples. While, leaching concentrations in AASB samples were lower than AAS. Conclusively, it was found that the solidification effect depends upon the composition of binder material, type of leaching extractant, nature and concentration of heavy metals in waste. The XRD, FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed that the solidification mechanism was carried out by both physical encapsulation and chemical fixation (dissolved into a crystal structure). Additionally, bentonite as an auxiliary additive significantly improved the solidification/stabilization of LZSS in AASB by enhancing the chemical adsorption capacity of heavy metals.
Keywords: alkali activated slag; bentonite; lead-zinc smelting slag; solidification/stabilization.