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Published on: October 15, 2015
Methodology for assessing thioarsenic formation potential in sulfidic landfill environments
Jianye Zhang1, Hwidong Kim2, Timothy Townsend1
1Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 116450, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
High sulfide levels in landfills can create thioarsenates, a concerning form of arsenic found in construction debris landfill leachate. This study developed a method to detect these thioarsenates, revealing their presence and potential for arsenic mobilization.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Geochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Arsenic leaching in landfills is influenced by sulfide, forming thioarsenic anions.
- Construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfills pose specific risks due to arsenic-bearing waste and drywall.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for assessing thioarsenic formation potential in sulfidic landfill environments.
- To investigate the presence and significance of thioarsenates in C&D debris landfill leachate.
Main Methods:
- Ion chromatography (IC) with a conductivity detector was employed for thioarsenic analysis.
- Validation of the IC method for accurate thioarsenate detection.
- Analysis of multiple C&D debris landfill leachate samples.
Main Results:
- Monothioarsenate and dithioarsenate were confirmed; new arsenic polysulfide complexes (AsSx(-), x=5-8) were observed.
- Trithioarsenate and tetrathioarsenate were found to be unstable upon air exposure.
- Thioarsenate anions constituted approximately 8.5% of total aqueous arsenic in tested C&D landfill leachate.
Conclusions:
- Thioarsenates are present in C&D debris landfill leachate, indicating a significant arsenic speciation pathway.
- The lower adsorption of thioarsenates on iron oxides compared to arsenite/arsenate raises concerns for arsenic mobility.
- The developed IC method is effective for analyzing thioarsenates in complex landfill environments.
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