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Mercury mobility in byproducts of sinter plants by sequential fractionation

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant, present in air, water and soil, with natural and anthropogenic sources. Industrial processes, particularly steel production, release Hg into the environment, but with specific adsorbent materials used in air pollution control devices (APCD), it could be removed from the flue-gas, finally posing significant waste management challenges. This study examined Hg concentrations in adsorbent materials from the flue-gas of different sinter plants, assessing the potential Hg mobility when disposed in landfills through sequential fractionation. The study was conducted as a laboratory work. The results revealed significant different Hg concentrations in the byproducts of APCD. The byproducts exhibited a solubility of over 90 %, which result in the high concentrations of Na + , Cl - , K + and SO₄ 2- present in the byproducts. Higher Hg concentrations (400–600 µg/g) were found in samples from facilities using activated carbon, while facilities without activated carbon had lower concentrations (75 µg/g and 1.0 µg/g). The different Hg concentrations between the devices investigated based in the raw materials and their origin. Sequential extraction revealed that a substantial Hg fraction in the byproducts were water-soluble, acid-soluble, reducible and oxidizable, making it mobile. Compared to other byproducts from APCD the byproducts in this study had a higher solubility, making leaching a potential pre-treatment step before landfilling. The leachates were characterized, and dissolved Hg concentrations were too high to be safely discharged into a waterbody.
DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100849
Institution: BOKU University
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,400
OpenAlex ID: W4413274495
FWCI:
Cites: 41
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Related to: 10