Solubility of Trace Elements and Heavy Metals from Stabilized Sewage Sludge by Fly Ash

Abstract

Stabilized sewage sludge (SS) by fly ash (FA) and alkaline mine tailing as artificial soil, to be applied on the ecological rehabilitation at mining junkyard, offers a potential viable utilization of the industrial by-product, as well as solves the shortage of soil resource in mine area. In this study, trace element and heavy metal soil solution concentrations arising from fly ash, sewage sludge, mine tailing, and artificial soil mixtures were investigated in a laboratory incubation. It was found that total Cd, Pb, and Zn contents in artificial soils were significantly lower than the control standards for pollutants in sludges from agricultural use (GB 4284-84). Soil solution Cd and Pb concentrations were obviously reduced by mixing sewage sludge with alkaline fly ash. Initial soil solution Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in artificial soils were 1.773-14.672, 4.05-24.95, and 133-608 microg L(-1), respectively, and after 35-days incubation, soil solution Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations gradually decreased and were approaching control levels by the end of the experiment, and finial soil solution were decreased to 0.037-0.365, 2.12-7.34, and 29-509 microg L(-1), respectively.