Interactions of Cd²⁺, Co²⁺ and MoO₄²⁻ Ions with Crushed Concrete Fines

• Main Authors: Victoria K. Elmes, Nichola J. Coleman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Journal of Composites Science
• Subjects: recycled; aggregate; cement; construction and demolition waste; cadmium, cobalt, molybdenum, heavy metals, sorbent
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/2/42

Construction and demolition activities generate approximately two thirds of the world’s waste, with concrete-based demolition material accounting for the largest proportion. Primary aggregates are recovered and reused, although the cement-rich fine fraction is underutilised. In this study, single metal batch sorption experiments confirmed that crushed concrete fines (CCF) are an effective sorbent for the maximum exclusion of 45.2 mg g⁻¹ Cd²⁺, 38.4 mg g⁻¹ Co²⁺ and 56.0 mg g⁻¹ MoO₄²⁻ ions from aqueous media. The principal mechanisms of sorption were determined, by scanning electron microscopy of the metal-laden CCF, to be co-precipitation with Ca²⁺ ions released from the cement to form solubility limiting phases. The removal of Co²⁺ and MoO₄²⁻ ions followed a zero-order reaction and that of Cd²⁺ was best described by a pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir model provided the most appropriate description of the steady state immobilisation of Cd²⁺ and Co²⁺, whereas the removal of MoO₄²⁻ conformed to the Freundlich isotherm. Long equilibration times (>120 h), loose floc formation and high pH are likely to limit the use of CCF in many conventional wastewater treatment applications; although, these properties could be usefully exploited in reactive barriers for the management of contaminated soils, sediments and groundwater.