Comprehensive assessment of flocculation conditioning of dredged sediment using organic polymers: Dredged sediment dewaterability and release of pollutants

Abstract

Dredged sediment contains various contaminants that are released during the process of dewatering and subsequent utilization. In this study, two organic polymers—chitosan (CS) and cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) both in samples of varying molecular weights (MWs)—were used as flocculants to improve dewatering and rheological behaviors of dredged sediment, and floc properties were characterized to unravel the mechanisms of flocculation treatment. Moreover, pollutant transfer and release in the flocculation-dewatering process was investigated. Compared to CPAM, CS had better performance in dredged sediment dewatering, and more compact flocs were produced after treatment. The flocculated sediment belonged to the type of yield dilatant fluid and showed good shear resistance. Three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy and PARAFAC showed that protein-like substances were removed after treatment. The MW of CS had insignificant effects on flocculation performance, whereas CPAM removal efficiency for protein-like substances was increased at higher MWs, which may be related to the adsorption bridging effect of CPAM polymer chains. There were significant correlations between the dewatering performance of sediments, MW distribution of organics and rheological properties. CS and CPAM treatments caused the transformation of Fe/Al-P into CaP, which could reduce phosphorus release and its ecological risk. The flocculants contributed to the formation of carbonate-bound forms of As, Cr, Pb, and Ni. Ecological risk assessment results of the geo-accumulation index showed that medium- and low-MW CS reduced risk of sediment contamination, whereas CPAM and high-MW CS increased the ecological risk. CS had a greater effect on the release of VOCs than CPAM, with an increased release of total VOCs at higher flocculant MWs. The study was helpful to understand the dewatering mechanism of dredged sediment and provided a new strategy for pollution release management in sediment dewatering.