Characteristics of Speciation of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge of Guangzhou as Fertilizer

Abstract

Application of municipal sewage sludge to agricultural land especially in shallow soils, demands to validate the maximum amount of heavy metal, monitoring its effects on soil and on plants. The use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer and soil amendment has resulted in high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and food limiting its use. Controlling the pollution of heavy metals is the key factor to realize the safe utilization of sewage sludge. In the present study, the heavy metal stabilizers were added to sludge contained in used plastic containers, through artificially watering or naturally rain falling, the nutrient components flowed out with leaching water and fertilized plants but the heavy metals retained in the sludge within container. The potential toxic risks from heavy metals of sludge depend on their chemical speciation. The contents of heavy metals in different treatments were analyzed and their speciation was determined. The pot experiments with plants (Zea mays and Laetuca satiuali) showed that the positive effects of the mixture of the sludge and K2SO4 on plant production and reduction of heavy metal contents in plants were significant. The BCR sequential extraction procedure was applied for measurement of heavy metals in the experimental sludge. The results showed that the concentrations of Zn were predominant in acid exchangeable and reducible fractions, and Cu was principally distributed in oxidizable fractions. Metals-bound sludge could be collected easily after treatment to prevent the secondary pollution, provided the heavy metals were fixed within the container and reduced obviously the leaching of heavy metals to soil.