PH control on organic and organo-mineral colloids carrying major and trace elements in leachates of wetland sludge deposits

Abstract

Emission of colloids from treatment wetlands solid deposit (SD) may affect the speciation, toxicity and transfer of organic and inorganic pollutants, thereby controlling the associated environmental risks. This study investigated the nature of the colloids and their influence on the leaching of major and trace elements over a wide range of pH between 2 and 12. Results evidenced the mobilization of high quantity of organic carbon leached from the SD and Al-Fe colloidal minerals embedded by large organic molecules. Based on their varying affinity for the different colloidal phases, three groups of chemical species were established: (i) elements with low affinity for colloidal phases, mainly released in truly dissolved fraction (<3kDa) as inorganic species (Na, Rb, As, Sb, S, P, V); (ii) element strongly affected by the detachment of large colloids (>30 kDa), preferentially associated to organic colloids (Li, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Mn, Zn) or to mineral colloids (Pb, Cr, Sc, Y); and (iii) element with high affinity for large and truly dissolved organic molecules (Cu, Co, Cd, Ni). Differences observed in the partitioning of elements can be attributed to variations in the pH/Eh of the solutions, the nature of the colloidal phases, and the ionic properties of the considered elements. Small pH variations were found to modify drastically the speciation of the elements solubilized with potential effect on their (bio)availability. Results obtained on this study can be used to enhance wastewater treatment through constructed wetland process and improve recovery technics applied on solid deposits (agriculture, compounds extraction…).