Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating rotary slag containing iron and sodium compounds. The method involves treating the slag in a sulfuric acid solution to convert the iron and sodium within the slag to iron sulfate and sodium sulfate. The iron sulfate (along with substantially all of the heavy metal contaminants) forms a precipitate, while the sodium sulfate remains in solution. The precipitate can then be separated from the solution.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the ecologically safe disposal of lead-contaminated hazardous industrial wastes (such, as for example, those generated as discardable by-products in primary and secondary lead smelting operations, especially, blast furnace slags and matte), which comprises reducing the size of the lead-contaminated industrial wastes and treating them, prior to encapsulation in a hardenable material, with the naturally occurring zeolite, clinoptilolite, in an amount sufficient to prevent lead ions (Pb.sup.+2) from leaching out of the industrial wastes, through exposure to the action of atmospheric agents (e.g., hot air and rain, or as a result of cyclical freezing and thawing in temperature climates), even over an extended period of time.