Thermal and leaching behaviors of EAF dust-clay systems

Thermal behaviors of EAF dust, water-washed EAF dust, and EAF dust/heavy clay mixtures with wet mixing process were characterized by TG/DTA analysis. The ionic concentrations of some metal ions and anions in the supernatant from water-washing process were evaluated by ICP and IC analysis. Weight loss of water-washed EAF dust above the temperature range of 1000 degrees C was significantly decreased because of the washing effect of chloride and sulfate compounds. The variation of volatile ZnO and PbO contents were not detected in 20wt% D dust-80wt% clay sample. The wet mixing process not only enhanced the homogeneous mixing of EAF dust and clay particles, but also reduced the volatilization of heavy metals(Zn, Pb, etc.) at the high temperature range.