Ya-Feng Zhou (PhD Student)
University of Queensland

Project Title
Use of waste products to immobilize heavy metal contaminants in bulk waste materials

Biography
B.Sc. (1995): in Food Science, Shengyang Agriculture University, China
M.Sc. (1998): in Food Science, Shengyang Agriculture University, China
9/1998-12/2002: Assistant professor, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
1/2003- present: Associate professor, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chian

Start Date
May 2007

Project Details
The significance of this study would be the development of a technology to treat bulk contaminated wastes using other waste products and, in particular, a scientific understanding of the mechanisms involved. The project will involve identifying and collecting samples of waste materials to be used as potential immobilizing agents (eg fly ash, blast furnace slag, and red mud) and quantifying their ability to adsorb heavy metals and possibly other contaminants.

Bulk wastes contaminated with heavy metals will be collected (eg municipal biosolids, mining wastes) and characterized. After the immobilizing agents are mixed (and possibly composted) with wastes the resulting reductions in heavy metal availability and toxicity will be estimated. Various rates of addition and methods of mixing of immobilizing agents with bulk wastes will be tested. The most promising and practicable treatments will be evaluated further. Untreated, contaminated wastes and those treated with immobilizing agents will be applied to soils and their effectiveness evaluated. In particular, the effect of their additions on soil and environmental parameters will be evaluated. Parameters investigated will include available heavy metal levels, heavy metal mobility in soils, plant growth and heavy metal uptake and the size, activity and diversity of the soil microbial community.