Leaching tests and model calculations were performed to investigate the immobilization mechanisms of Pb and compare different leaching protocols. Stabilization/solidification (S/S) treatments reduced Pb concentrations in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) leachate from 5.9 mg/L for untreated soil to less than 0.7 mg/L. The results of eight different leaching protocols show that: (1) the main factor controlling the Pb concentration in the leachate is the final pH; (2) the final pH is a function of the leachant acidity; and (3) for a given final pH, the type of leachant has a relatively minor effect on leachability. The diffuse layer adsorption model, aqueous and precipitation reactions were employed in the MINTEQA2 program to describe the Pb leaching behavior. Both leaching tests and model simulations indicate that the Pb leaching behavior can be divided into three stages based on the leachate pH: a high alkalinity leaching stage at pH > 12, where Pb formed soluble hydroxide anion complexes and leached out; a neutral to alkaline immobilization stage in the pH range of 6-12, which was characterized by low Pb leachability caused by adsorption and precipitation; and an acid leaching stage with pH < 6, where the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) of the S/S materials was totally consumed and therefore free Pb-ion leached out. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.