Heavy Metals In Sludge Research Articles

The Transformation of Heavy Metal Be in Activated Sludge Process

Municipalsludge is refers to the product of sewage treatment plant, facing the huge number of municipalsludge, the disposal of the municipalsludge has aroused wide attention of all countries. Many studies consider that urban land use of the municipalsludge is the most effective method, However heavy metal accumulats in the sludge and the environment of the risk with agricultural appears day after day.The purpose of this study is: analysis the transfermation of heavy metals in the activated sludge system of various structures. put forward the solution of reducing heavy metal exceeded in the activated sludge treatment process.It appears that the coagulation can make colloid stabilized and sedimentation, can control the input of the heavy metal effectively; Adsorption of activated sludge to heavy metal is very fast, in 30 min basic reached adsorption balance, probably 80% or more;The change from oxygen to aerobic have great influence on Heavy metal biological adsorption;An aerobic digestion processes can reduce the volume and quality of sludge, but there is no enrichment role to heavy metal in sludge.

Effects of Lime Stabilized Sewage Sludge Compost on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Heavy Metal Uptake by Ryegrass

A pot experiment was performed to study effects of application of metal rich sludge cocomposted with lime on soil physicochemical properties, ryegrass biomass and heavy metal uptake by ryegrass. The results show that application of sludge compost with (LSC) and without lime (SC) could increase the soil pH, and the organic matter, available N, P and K in soils, consequently, improve the growth of ryegrass. No significant differences were found in the plant growth between sludge composted with lime and without lime. Sludge compost rich in Zn and Cd resulted in two elementals accumulation in soil and plant. The content of Zn and Cd in ryegrass from LSC-treated soil was much lower than those from SC-treated soils at the same application rate. The results illustrated that lime was very effective in stabilizing Zn and Cd in compost. However, the fact that Cd in ryegrass from LSC treated soil was close to or even exceeded the guideline for the health standard of feed and food in China (GB 13078-2001) implied the limitation of liming in stabilization heavy metals in sludge.

The Concentration and the Abatement Strategy of Organic Contaminants in Sewage Sludge Dewatering

Sludge agriculture application in future will be one of the main sewage sludge disposal ways in China. To ensure safety and environment of sewage sludge agriculture application, except to strengthen the research of sludge heavy metal, pathogen outside the organic contaminants will be one of the focuses of the future research, especially to strengthen the PAHs and NP/NPE. In order to reduce the environmental risks of sludge agriculture application, using biological aerobic fermentation processing technology treatment sludge can effectively reduce the organic contaminants, depress secondary pollution problem, which sewage sludge brings.

Temporal Evolution of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates and Heavy Metals in Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plant

Five homologues of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS)-LAS C-10, LAS C-11, LAS C-12, and LAS C-13 and total LAS-were monitored during a one-year period in primary, secondary, and digested sludge to evaluate their presence and temporal evolution. Extraction of LAS was carried out using microwaves energy, and determination was performed using high-performance liquid chromatographic- fluorescence (HPLC-FL). The results showed that concentrations of total LAS were between 9 337 mg/kg(-1) dry matter for primary sludge and 33.3 mg/kg(-1)(DM) for secondary sludge. Concentrations of total LAS were greater than 2 113 mg/kg(-1) in primary and digested sludge and were less than 260 mg/kg(-) in secondary sludge. On the other hand, the highest concentrations of LAS in primary sludge were found in summer, probably because of lack of rain during those months. Concentrations tend to be constant throughout the year in digested sludge. In addition heavy metals also were analyzed. Heavy metals, including zinc, copper, nickel, lead, and chromium are persistent environmental contaminants that cannot be destroyed. Biomagnification through the food-chain and potential accumulation in human tissues can cause both human health and environmental concerns. Concern regarding total heavy metal content of sludge limits sludge recycling for use on agricultural lands. This paper presents a comparative study of wastewater sludge that are going to be used as fertilizer based on the requirements of legislation proposed in the European Union. This research found that concentrations of total LAS in digested sludge are higher than the limits established in the proposed new draft.

Heavy-Metal Accumulation in Low-Sludge Wastewater Treatment Technique: Sonication-Cryptic Growth

This paper used a sonication-cryptic growth technique in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to reduce sludge yield and then analyzed the accumulation of eight typical heavy metals in sludge, namely, Hg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pd. SBR-1 was blank, SBR-2 used sonication, SBR-3 was dosed with heavy metals, and SBR-4 had both sonication and heavy metals. Artificial wastewater dosed with 12.5 mg/L heavy metals was used for SBR-3 and SBR-4. Results showed that the addition of heavy metals in influent caused the latter to accumulate in sludge and that each metal exhibits different behavior. Heavy-metal addition dropped sludge bioactivity by 53% and decreased the effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD) (SBR-3 versus SBR-1). Application of sonication (each day, 15% sludge was treated for 15 min by 1.2 W/ml ultrasound) decreased the excess sludgy by almost half; however, it increased sludge heavy-metal concentration only by 3.5% (SBR-4 versus SBR-3). Furthermore, sonication benefited sludge bioactivity and thus im...

Mobilities and leachabilities of heavy metals in sludge with humus soil

Chemical forms of Zn, Ni, Cu, and Pb in municipal sewage sludge were investigated by adding humus soil to sludge and by performing sequential extraction procedures. In the final sludge mixtures, Zn and Ni were mainly found in Fe/Mn oxide-bound (F3) and organic matter/sulfide-bound (F4) forms. For Zn, exchangeable (F1), carbonate-bound (F2), and F3 forms were transformed to F4 and residual forms (F5). For Ni, F1 and F2 forms were transformed to F1, F2, and F3 forms. Both Cu and Pb were strongly associated with the stable forms F4 and F5. For Cu, F2 and F3 forms were major contributors, while for Pb, F3 and F4 forms were major contributors to F5. Humus soil dosage and pH conditions in the sludge were strongly correlated with the forms of heavy metals. Five forms were used to evaluate metal mobilities in the initial and final sludge mixtures. The mobilities of the four heavy metals studied decreased after 28 days. The metal mobilities in the final sludge mixtures were ranked in the following order: Ni > Zn > Cu = Pb. Leaching tests showed that the mobilities of Zn and Ni in lower pH conditions (pH 4) were higher than those in higher pH conditions (pH 8).

Cost-effective production of Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticides by solid-state fermentation using wastewater sludge: Effects of heavy metals

This study demonstrated the feasibility to produce Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) based biopesticides using wastewater sludge as raw materials under solid-state fermentation (SSF). More than 1010CFU/g viable cells of Btk were obtained using sludge or its mixture with agricultural wastes. This study well considered the effect of heavy metals on Btk growth and their changes of chemical speciation caused by SSF. The IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition in total cell biomass) for Pb(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) on Btk were determined to be 227, 82, 15 and 263mg/L, respectively. Exposure to 150mg/L of Cu(II) severely reduced the amount and size of toxin crystals, which decreased the endotoxin synthesis and entomotoxicity potency of Btk cells. Using Tessier’s sequential extraction procedure, the exchangeable heavy metals in sludge were shown to be transformed into residual fractions after SSF, and thus significantly reduced their bioavailability and potential environmental risks.

Effect of chemical and thermal activations on the properties of rice husk ash-based solidified wastes

Strength development, leachability and microstructure of heavy metals from the solidified waste using synthesis rice husk ash (sRHA) and lime blended at the weight ratio of 1:1 were used as binders. The heavy metal-containing sludge was used at the level of 0 wt.%, 30 wt.%, and 50 wt.% dry weight, respectively. The sample specimens with and without 1.5 wt.% of sodium silicate (SiO 2/Na 2O = 1.0) were cured under the ambient condition and elevated temperature curing at 50°C for 24 hr. Experimental results showed that the introduction of sodium silicate solution and elevated temperature curing to sRHA-based solidified waste containing 30 wt.% of heavy metal sludge gave one day strength of 20 kg/cm 2 compared to 0.9 kg/cm 2 for the control sample. XRD patterns indicated that most metal-sulfides present in the sludge were appeared in the solidified waste and SEM coupled with EDX techniques reveal these metal-sulfide particles were trapped within the lime-sRHA matrices. In addition, cumulative leaching behavior by tank test (EA NEN 7375:2004) showed that solidified waste containing up to 30 wt.% of heavy metal sludge was suitable to dispose in a secured landfill.

Heavy metal fractionation and organic matter stabilization in sewage sludge treatment wetlands

The presence of heavy metals in sludge stabilized in a reed bed system may affect its use for agricultural purposes. However, the environmental impact of sludge depends on the availability and phytotoxicity of these heavy metals. The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of a reed bed ( Phragmites australis) sludge treatment system in two urban wastewater treatment plants in Italy after a three-year period of operation: (i) by estimating the process of sludge stabilization, following conventional and nonconventional parameters related to the evolution of organic matter quality (water soluble carbon, dehydrogenase activity, pyrolytic fragments); (ii) by following the heavy metal bioavailability in the sludge through their fractionation. For heavy metal fractionation, the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) was followed. The results showed that there was mineralization and stabilization of sludge over time, suggested by the decrease of about 35% in water soluble carbon and of about 60–80% of dehydrogenase activity. Moreover, significant values of benzene (17%), toluene (31%) and phenol (9%) were found at the end of experimentation in both treatment wetlands, highlighting the re-synthesis of humic-like matter. The results also showed that the content of heavy metals after 30 months was associated with the less mobile fractions of the sludge (more than 60% of total heavy metal content for almost metal), in particular, the fraction linked to the organic matter.

The Effect of Sorel's Cement on the Solidification/Stabilization of Heavy Metal Ions

ABSTRACT Since the 1980's, many mines have been closed and abandoned due to the exhaustion of deposits and the declining prices of international mineral resources. Because of the lack of post management for these abandoned mines, rivers have been contaminated with heavy metal ions and sludge. We studied the solidification/stabilization of heavy metal ions, chromium ions and lead ions, using Sorel's cement. Specimens prepared by the mixing and reacting of chromium ions and lead ions with Sorel's cement were analyzed by XRD and SEMEDAX to investigate the products and crystal shapes. Furthermore, ICP analysis was used to analyze the content of heavy metal ions in the eruption water from the specimens to check the solidification and stabilization of heavy metal ions. This experiment found that Sorel's cement had excellent solidification effects for chromium ions and lead ions with solidification rates of 99.9% and 99.7%, respectively.

Recovery and stabilization of heavy metal sludge (Cu and Ni) from etching and electroplating plants by electrolysis and sintering

This work dealt with the recovery and stabilization of the sludge with heavy metals (Cu and Ni) produced from etching and electroplating plants. The heavy metals in the sludge were deprived of by acid leaching, followed by precipitation with 28% NH4OH, and finally by electrolysis. In the electrolysis, the recovery percentage and purity were investigated at different electronic currency and temperature. The metal-deprived sludge was stabilized by mixing with glass powder and clay, followed by sintering at high temperature. How the ratio of glass powder to metal-deprived sludge affected final products (sludge bricks) was explored, in terms of specific gravity, absorption capacity, unconfined compressive strength, morphology, the volume shrinkage ratio and burn-up ratio. The volume shrinkage ratio and burn-up ratio of sludge bricks increased with metal-deprived sludge contents. The heavy metal remaining in sludge bricks was assessed through TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure) and by the analysis of SEM and EDX. The results from TCLP showed that the contents of leached metals were all below the regulatory criteria. This fact approved the feasibility of our method.

Avaliação da integridade e da retenção de metais pesados em materiais estabilizados por solidificação

A quantidade de resíduos sólidos industriais tem aumentado significativamente em decorrência da industrialização, e o seu gerenciamento adequado é necessário para reduzir o impacto ao meio ambiente e aos ecossistemas. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas a integridade e a retenção de metais pesados em materiais estabilizados por solidificação. Foi adotado o planejamento completamente aleatorizado com um único fator, ou seja, foram comparadas as médias de quatro tratamentos (A, B, C e D) com 0, 40, 50 e 60% respectivamente de contaminantes e três repetições. Cimento Portland comum, bentonita sódica e hidróxido de cálcio foram usados para estabilizar por solidificação o resíduo sólido sintético contendo óxido de Cd2+, Pb2+ e Cu2+. Pode-se concluir que os tratamentos influenciaram no resultado de lixiviação do cádmio, chumbo e cobre. Os tratamentos mostraram que as concentrações do extrato solubilizado e lixiviado aumentam em função da quantidade de cádmio, chumbo e cobre adicionada. O maior valor encontrado foi para o material proveniente do tratamento D, que apresentou lixiviação igual a 32,815 mg.kg-1 para o cádmio e 29,769 mg.kg-1 para o chumbo. Para os ensaios de integridade/durabilidade, constatou-se que o aumento da absorção de água fez com que a resistência à compressão diminuísse. O uso de cimento, de hidróxido de cálcio e de bentonita sódica se mostrou ideal para retenção de metais pesados, evitando a sua lixiviação e a solubilização para o meio ambiente.

Removal and process of heavy metals in sludge by microbiological leaching for agricultural use

Removal and process of heavy metals in sludge by microbiological leaching for agricultural use

Ultrasonic reduction of excess sludge from activated sludge system II: Urban sewage treatment

Previous study showed that sonication was effective to reduce waste activated sludge (WAS) using artificial wastewater. This paper confirms the viability and evaluates the performance of this method in practical wastewater treatment using urban sewage without temperature control. The results showed that sonication significantly lowered the WAS and biomass synthesis, and greatly enhanced the mineralization of sewage organics. The optimal specific energy for sludge lysis was 20.0 kWh/kgDS. Further energy-increase had little benefit on WAS reduction. When the specific energy was 20.0 kWh/kgDS and the sludge recycle ratio was 0.007, the WAS decreased by 54%, the biomass synthesis abated by 59%, and the sewage mineralization ratio increased from 31% to 58%. The effluent COD and nitrogen were stable but phosphorus was higher than that of the control bioreactor. The COD removal was lower but the WAS reduction was higher for urban sewage than for artificial wastewater. The accumulation pattern of heavy metals in sludge was greatly alternated by the sonication-cryptic growth; and different metals behaved differently. The sludge Ni concentration increased by 141% while As decreased by 53%.

A study of heavy metals in sludge, sewage and industrial waste water of different districts of Haryana

Several electroplating industry including agricultural sector industries, sewage treatment and mining operations all combine to generate hazardous waste water containing enormous amounts of toxic heavy metals. The accumulation of toxic heavy metals in human beings and animals cause many metabolic disorders. Heavy metal concentration was estimated in sewage, sludge and electroplating wastewater collected from Karnal, Panipat, and Sonepat districts of Haryana. Heavy metals were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni were found in the industrial effluent, sludge, and sewage samples of Karnal, Panipat and Sonepat. The soluble heavy metals ranged from: Cd (0.015 - 0.451 mg/L), Cr (0.015 - 0.248 mg/L), Pb (0.014 - 0.351 mg/L) and Ni (0.023 - 0.624 mg/L). Similarly total heavy metals ranged from: Cd (0.2 - 6.5 mg/ L), Cr (0.1- 180 mg/L), Pb (0.1 - 180 mg/L) and Ni (0.3 - 125 mg/L).

Optimization of Fe2 + /solids content ratio for a novel sludge heavy metal bioleaching process

A novel bioleaching process, preincubation bioleaching (PB) has been recently developed in our laboratory for decontamination of heavy-metal-laden sewage sludge by removing the toxic low molecular weight organic acids using an isolated degradative yeast species. The objective of the present study was to optimize Fe2+ /solids content ratio required for removing heavy metals from sewage sludge by using this novel process at high solids content. Results from the present study showed that regardless of the Fe2+ /solids content ratio iron oxidation and sludge acidification could be achieved within 2 days confirming the effectiveness of PB in reducing the inhibitory organic acids. When PB was conducted at an elevated solids content of 3%, Fe2 +/solids content ratio could be reduced to 0.75:1, 1:1 and 1.25:1 for solubilization of Zn, Cu and Cr respectively. Under this optimized bioleaching conditions, the following solubilization efficiencies were obtained after 8 days of bioleaching: 100% Zn, 96% Cu, 60% Cr with no reduction in nutrient contents. Hence, bioleaching at elevated solids contents represents a more economical way for decontamination of heavy-metal-laden sewage sludge while preserving its fertility values.

Heavy metal displacement in salt-water-irrigated soil during phytoremediation

In regions where phytoremediation is carried out, brackish water must often be used. However, no information exists concerning the consequences of saline-water irrigation on the mobility of heavy metals in sludge applied to soil during phytoremediation. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of NaCl irrigation on displacement of seven heavy metals in sludge (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) applied to the surface of soil columns containing barley plants. Half the columns received NaCl irrigation (10,000 mg L(-1)) and half the columns received tap-water irrigation. Half the columns were treated with the chelating agent EDTA. With no EDTA, irrigation with the NaCl solution increased the concentrations of Cd, Fe, Mn, and Pb in the drainage water above drinking-water standards. Irrigation of sludge farms with brackish water is not recommended, because saline water increased the mobility of the heavy metals and they polluted the drainage water.

Translocation of metals in pea plants grown on various amendment of electroplating industrial sludge

A pot-culture experiment was conducted to observe the effects of acidic sludge addition to the soils on bioavailability and uptake of heavy metals in different parts of pea plant as well as its influence on the growth of that plant. It is observed from our result the abundances of total and bio-available heavy metals in sludge vary as follows: Fe > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Zn > Cd and Fe > Ni > Mn > Cr > Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd. Sludge applications increased both the total metals, DTPA-extractable metals and total N in the soils. On the other hand lime application has decreased the bioavailability of heavy metals with no change in total N in sludge amended soils. Organic carbon showed positive correlation with all metals except Zn, Cr and Pb. CEC also showed a strong positive correlation ( R 2 > 0.7) with the low translocation efficiency of pea plants. The value of translocation factor from shoot to seed was found to be smaller than root to shoot of pea plants. Our study thus shows that pea plants were found to be well adapted to the soil amended with 10% sludge with 0.5% lime treatment, minimizing most of the all metal uptake in the shoot of that plant. So, on the basis of the present study, possible treatment may be recommended for the secure disposal of acidic electroplating sludge.

Influence of clinoptilolite rock on chemical speciation of selected heavy metals in sewage sludge

The chemical speciation of Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr and Ni in Torun municipal sewage sludge is investigated with addition of a natural sorbent (clinoptilolite rock). The total contents of the heavy metals in the sludge are substantially lower than the corresponding limits established by European or Polish legislation excepting nickel only. But the metals concentrations excepting lead exceed significantly the natural background (average contents in soils and in the Earth's crust) in dozens. Application of the sequential chemical extraction indicated that the metals in the sewage sludge are bound mainly (over 50%) in the residual fraction. The metals form the following order by parts of the mobile form: Ni > Cd ≫ Cr > Cu ≫ Pb. Addition of the clinoptilolite to the sludge leads to the metals contents fall in all four fractions of the sequential procedure. Concentrations of mobile forms of cadmium, chromium, copper and nickel decrease by 87, 64, 35 and 24%, respectively, as a result of addition of 9.09% of the clinoptilolite. The total decreases of the metals amount after 9.09% clinoptilolite addition to the sludge are around 11, 15, 25, 41 and 51% for copper, nickel, chromium, cadmium and lead, respectively.

Production of lightweight aggregates from mining residues, heavy metal sludge, and incinerator fly ash

In this study, artificial lightweight aggregate (LWA) manufactured from recycled resources was investigated. Residues from mining, fly ash from an incinerator and heavy metal sludge from an electronic waste water plant were mixed into raw aggregate pellets and fed into a tunnel kiln to be sintered and finally cooled rapidly. Various feeding and sintering temperatures were employed to examine their impact on the extent of vitrification on the aggregate surface. Microstructural analysis and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) were also performed. The results show that the optimum condition of LWA fabrication is sintering at 1150 °C for 15 min with raw aggregate pellets fed at 750 °C. The rapidly vitrified surface envelops the gas produced with the increase in internal temperature and cooling by spraying water prevents the aggregates from binding together, thus forming LWA with specific gravity of 0.6. LWA produced by sintering in tunnel kiln shows good vitrified surface, low water absorption rate below 5%, and low cylindrical compressive strength of 4.3 MPa. In addition, only trace amounts of heavy metals were detected, making the LWA non-hazardous for construction use.