Chemical fixation of bivalent copper by granulation in an aqueous solution

In the field of industrial waste management, granulation in aqueous solution constitutes an effective alternative to the traditional stabilization/solidification technologies. This paper presents results obtained on the chemical fixation of bivalent copper. The tests were carried out utilizing three different concentration levels (2%, 4%, and 8% by weight) of bivalent copper, added as copper chloride. Two series of tests were carried out, the first using only cement as a binder, the second adding silica fume to the cement. The results obtained show that the immediate leaching of copper in the alkaline solidification bath is very low, and that the addition of silica fume to the matrix causes a reduction in copper release leading immediately to a greater amount of this element being immobilized in the cement matrix.A chemical fixation/solidification alternative for the disposal of industrial wastes containing copper is presented. Tests were conducted on three concentrations of bivalent copper. One used only cement as a binder, while another test added silica fume to the cement. Leaching of copper in the alkaline solidification bath is very low. Silica fume addition causes even lower copper release, resulting in more copper immobilization in the cement matrix. Tracer studies using lithium immobilization under the same conditions verified the immobilization of bivalent copper.