---

Environmental Impact of a Metallurgical Complex in Soil Contamination, Sohn International Symposium on Advanced Processing of Metals and Materials, San Diego, California,
Ian McBow¹ ; Robert Budd² ; A. Cullaj ; Florian Kongoli ¹; B. Hoxha³ ;
¹FLOGEN Technologies Inc,1255 Laird Blvd., Ste.388, Mont-Royal, Quebec, Canada
²FLOGEN Technologies Inc 3422 Old Capitol Trail, #791, Wilmington, DE, USA 19808
³University of Elbasan, Albania

Keywords: soil contamination, heavy metals, nickel, cobalt, chromium, industrial sites

ABSTRACT

During a period of 15 years the metallurgical and chemical complex of Elbasan (Albania) containing more than 15 principal plants, producing cast-iron, steel, coke, nickel carbonate, nickel, cobalt, chromium and other products, discharged into air, river water and soil an extensive amount of hazardous wastes containing high toxic substances. A monitoring study for the levels of heavy metals in soils nearby the former plant is carried out for the first time. Very high levels (total and extractable) of contaminants such as nickel, cobalt and chromium are found in samples taken from a relatively vast territory including the city of Elbasan, situated 8 kilometres far from the plant. The most polluted samples present a total content of 1211.8 - 2949.6 mg/kg Ni, 97.0 - 181.2 mg/kg Co and 1358.7 - 4130 mg/kg Cr. These levels exceed several times the phytotoxic thresholds and present a potential hazard for the inhabitants. This study, as part of a bigger multinational project on solid decontamination, will also serve to the possible application of the new phytoremediation and phytoextraction technologies, being developed in parallel in this project

Cite this article as:
Ian McBow, Robert Budd, A. Cullaj, Florian Kongoli, B. Hoxha (2006). Environmental Impact of a Metallurgical Complex in Soil Contamination. Sohn International Symposium on Advanced Processing of Metals and Materials, San Diego, California. Montreal, Canada: FLOGEN Star Outreach

Note: For copies of full papers please contact secretary@FLOGEN.COM