Cement-based stabilization/solidification of metal plating industry sludge

This study examines the cement-based Stabilization/Solidification (S/S) tec hnique of sludge produced from a metal plating industry. The sludge samples were characterized in terms of pH and heavy metal content (Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn). The leachability of the sludge was estimated using the Toxicit y Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). Two binder mixtures were used f or the S/S process, fly ash/cement and zeolite/cement. The weight ratio of the binder mixtures was optimized to achieve the highest strength. The opti mum ratio binder mixtures was mixed with sludge samples of different weight ratios and cured for 28 days in order to rind the S/S products with the hi ghest strength and the lowest leachability.