Speciation of trace metals in leachate from a MSWI bottom ash landfill

Abstract Trace metal concentrations and speciation were determined in leachate from a municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash landfill both experimentally and by thermodynamic model calculations. Total dissolved Cr, Sb and W concentrations determined directly by ICP-MS were up to two orders of magnitude higher than that determined upon preconcentration by an in-situ solid phase extraction technique based on 8-HQ cation exchanger which indicates oxyanion complex formation of these metals in the leachates. Speciation modeling suggests that a similar difference for Cu is caused by organic complexation. Lead and Zn concentrations determined by both methods were fairly comparable but very low, in the range 4–60 nmol l −1 . The low mobility of both metals can be modeled by assuming adsorption onto Fe-oxyhydroxides oxycoprecipitation with Ca-silicate hydrate phases. The resulting high retardation coefficients between 500 and 800 indicate that scavenging by these secondary weathering products in the MSWI bottom ash deposit can cause an efficient immobilization of both Pb and Zn.