Leaching of chromium and barium from steel slag in laboratory and field tests — a solubility controlled process?

Differences in concentrations in leachates and leaching conditions were found in laboratory and field tests on electric arc furnace steel slag. Solid phases were assumed to control the leachate concentrations of chromium and barium. Geochemical modelling was used to indicate solubility controlling solid phases. The mineral BaSO4(c) and solid solutions of Ba(S,Cr)O4 were predicted to control the concentrations of barium and chromium in the leachates, respectively. These solids were not expected to be present as primary minerals in the steel slag but were rapidly formed, within 6 h.