Influence and Mechanism of Different pH Values of Extractant on the Leachability of Heavy Metals in Industrial Sewage Sludge

Abstract

The leaching tests of heavy metals in industrial sewage sludge were carried out under different pH of extractant by the solid waste extraction procedure for leaching toxicity (GB5086.2-1997) of China on the base of the contents and fractions of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Mn and Ni elements. The results showed that the sludge was with higher levels of Mn and Zn, followed by Cu and Ni, while the higher toxicity of Pb and Cr was lower. The fractions of different elements in the sewage sludge had very different forms. The potential migration and biological toxicity were a concern for the active forms of Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr because their active proportions were more than 50%. The pH of extraction solutions had an important impact on the leaching of heavy metals in sewage sludge. The largest concentrations of Zn, Mn, Ni, Cu were appeared when the pH of extractant was about 7, but that of Fe had a greater fluctuation at the same pH. The concentrations of heavy metals had very different at different pH values, which may be related with the process of adsorption/desorption, complexation/dissociation, the dissolution/precipitation/co-precipitation and other chemical reactions in the extractant process.