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Calcium chloride washing of calcareous sediment from a freshwater canal: effect on the removal of potentially toxic elements and water aggregate stability

  • Sediments, Sec 5 • Sediment Management • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Canal dredging and shaping produce considerable amounts of sediments whose reuse on- and off-site depends on their pollution level. This study explores the potential of a calcium chloride washing to remove potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from a freshly dredged calcareous sediment and to affect the aggregate stability of the washed sediment.

Materials and methods

The ability of 0.5-M CaCl2 washing to restore the sediment samples polluted with Cu and Zn dredged from a freshwater canal was assessed. The distribution of the two metals among the sediment geochemical phases, the potential availability to plants (DTPA), and the water aggregate stability of particles were evaluated on the washed samples and compared to control.

Results and discussion

In the most polluted sample (~200 and 500 mg kg−1 of Cu and Zn, respectively), the washing decreased the amount of Cu by 26%, mainly in the sulfide/organic fraction, and of Zn by 10%, mainly in carbonates. A decrease in the dispersivity of clay fraction was observed due to the well-known effect of Ca2+ ions on flocculation of colloidal clay particles. At large scale, the aggregates formed by the interaction between large particles and flocculated clay showed lower water stability with respect to the control, thus suggesting the need to improve the physical properties of the treated material. Noteworthy, after 1 year of dry storage from washing, the average percentage of potentially bioavailable (DTPA) Cu and Zn (23 and 13% of pseudo-total amount, respectively) dropped with respect to the control (40 and 19%) and a concomitant carbonate increase (+33%) was observed.

Conclusions

The CaCl2 washing is a promising method to reduce Cu and, to a minor extent, Zn in wet calcareous sediments dredged from freshwater canals. However, there is still room for improvement. The PTE fractions remaining in carbonates and organic component of washed sediment clearly indicate the potential of combining mild acidic pH values with calcium chloride in the washing to enhance the PTE removal.

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Acknowledgments

Carla Zampighi and Cinalberto Bertozzi (Burana Land Reclamation Consortium, Italy) are acknowledged for supplying the sediment samples and Franco Zinoni and Barbara Villani (ARPAE-Emilia_Romagna, Italy) for the fruitful discussion. Geo Paul is acknowledged for proofreading.

Funding

This study was supported by the University of Bologna (Grant RFO2015_2016_Braschi_Ilaria).

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Correspondence to Ilaria Braschi.

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Responsible editor: Jos Brils

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Buscaroli, E., Sciubba, L., Falsone, G. et al. Calcium chloride washing of calcareous sediment from a freshwater canal: effect on the removal of potentially toxic elements and water aggregate stability. J Soils Sediments 19, 3098–3107 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02298-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02298-3

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