High-efficiency stabilization of lead in contaminated soil by thermal-organic acid–activated phosphate rock

Phosphate rock powder (PR) has been shown to possess the potential to stabilize lead (Pb) in soil. Most of the phosphorus (P) minerals in the world are low-grade ores, making it difficult to achieve the expected stabilization effect on heavy metals. This study compared the changes in the phase composition and structure of PR and three kinds of activated phosphate rock powder (APR) (organic acid–activated PR, thermal-activated PR, and thermal-organic acid–activated PR). The stabilization effectiveness of APR on Pb-contaminated soil was evaluated by toxicity leaching procedure; the Pb products adsorbed on APR and stabilization mechanism of APR on Pb were analyzed. The results demonstrated that APR showed decreased crystallinity and 3.4-fold increase in specific surface area, and a 53.07% and 49.32% increase in soluble P content in oxalic acid–activated PR and citric acid–activated PR, respectively, when compared with those of PR. These changes improved the stabilization effect of APR on Pb-contaminated soil, in which oxalic acid-600 °C–activated PR showed the best effect, presenting 94.0–99.8% reduction in Pb leaching concentration following addition of 2–10% modifier. Product characterization after Pb adsorption on APR showed that Pb was adsorbed onto APR by forming fluoropyromophite precipitation with APR. Graphical abstract