Immobilization of Hexavalent Chromium Using Self-Compacting Soil Technology

A study of immobilization of hexavalent chromium in the form of Na(2)CrO(4) salt by self-compacting soils (SCS) is presented. Carbofill E additive was used as SCS binder. The efficiency of immobilization of Cr (VI) was evaluated by washing out chromium compounds from SCS samples. The influence of the nature of the soil and the content of Carbofill E and Na(2)CrO(4) in the SCS samples on the efficiency of Cr (VI) immobilization was studied. It was found that the nature of the soil and the content of Carbofill E in the SCS samples affect the immobilization of Cr (VI). Moreover, increasing the Carbofill E content in SCS samples further increases Cr (VI) immobilization. X-ray diffraction studies of the samples with immobilized hexavalent chromium showed that part of the sample transforms from a readily soluble form of salt into oxide forms of chromium and calcium-chromium, which are practically insoluble in water.