Evaluating Effectiveness and Permanence of Selenium Treatment in a Solid Matrix via Aqueous-Mediated Zero Valent Iron Reaction

Abstract

Increasingly, as regulatory limits become more stringent, selenium has become a parameter of concern. Selenium is a naturally occurring element that is largely mobilized by anthropogenic activity such as mining for fuel and subsequent combustion, metal ore refining and processing, and agricultural irrigation. Of concern is removing selenium liquid matrices and immobilizing it from leachable solid matrices. Chemical reduction and stabilization using zero valent iron (ZVI) is applicable to both concerns. The solid matrix case study is applicable to ash ponds solids or industrial bag house dust solids. This paper presents data for treatment and stabilization of selenium within a solid matrix using ZVI. The methodology uses an aqueous mediate reaction to promote a stable solid matrix of non-leachable selenium. The paper describes matrix challenges and key variables that effected successful treatment. Testing with simulated and real bag house dust solids were used to establish data to support the permeance of the reaction. The data show that ZVI converts ionic selenium to a zero valent state in the solid matrix. It was also recognized that a fraction of ionic selenium may fail to react with the ZVI, but the results show that despite the presence of the unreacted ionic selenium, the toxicity characteristic leachate procedure (TCLP) results following treatment do not exceed the 1 mg/L hazardous waste criteria.