Comparison of total and aqua regia extractability of heavy metals in sewage sludge: The case study of a certified reference material

This article describes an improvement in the modified BCR three-step sequential extraction procedure employed for heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in untreated domestic waste-water sewage sludge collected from different cities in Pakistan.The BCR sequential extraction protocol requires 16 h for each step, whereas in the present work optimum recoveries of all heavy metals were attained in 10 h/step. The validity of the proposed BCR sequential extraction procedure was checked using certified reference material (BCR 483). Various parameters such as time interval (2–16 h) and sample mass (0.2–1.0 g) were studied to achieve optimum recovery of the heavy metals studied. The extracted analytes were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum recovery of heavy metals from the certified reference material and from experimental samples was achieved at a sample mass of 0.4 g, while the time required for extraction on a mechanical shaker at 30 rpm was found to be 26–32 h. The sequence of easily available (acid-exchangeable) heavy metals was determined as Cd<Zn<Ni<Cr<Pb<Cu. With the exception of Cd the dominant fractions of the heavy metals were associated with organic matter, while 31.0 and 47.8% of Cd was present in acid-soluble and reducible forms, respectively. A lixiviation test (DIN 38414-S4) was used to evaluate the leaching of heavy metals from the domestic waste-water sewage sludge used for agricultural purposes.

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An international interlaboratory study for the production of a sewage sludge certified reference material for routine use in inorganic quality control

Fresenius Journal of Analytical Chemistry ◽

10.1007/s002160050723 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 360 (3-4) ◽

pp. 406-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. F. N. Maaskant ◽

A. H. Boekholt ◽

P. J. Jenks ◽

R. D. Rucinski

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Reference Material ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Certified Reference Material ◽

Interlaboratory Study

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Source identification of heavy metals in sewage sludge and the effect of influent characteristics: a case study from China

Urban Water Journal ◽

10.1080/1573062x.2018.1483525 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 381-387 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J.-J. Feng ◽

L. Jia ◽

Q.-Z. Liu ◽

X.-L. Chen ◽

J.P. Cheng

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Source Identification

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Development and characteristics of a new certified reference material for landfill cover soil analysis with extraction using dilute hydrochloric acid

Analytical Methods ◽

10.1039/d0ay00174k ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 1896-1905

Author(s):

Masataka Nishikawa ◽

Tomoharu Sano ◽

Kimiyo Nagano ◽

Miyuki Ukachi ◽

Kaoru Onishi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Reference Material ◽

Hydrochloric Acid ◽

Certified Reference Material ◽

Dilute Hydrochloric Acid ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Landfill Cover Soil ◽

Trace Heavy Metals ◽

Landfill Cover ◽

Support Research

A new environmental certified reference material (CRM) has been developed by the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) to support research and development studies on trace heavy metals in landfill cover soils.

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Heavy Metal Speciation of Sewage Sludge and its Phytotoxic Effects on the Germination of Three Plant Species

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.347-353.1022 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 347-353 ◽

pp. 1022-1030 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mian Hao Hu ◽

Ju Hong Yuan

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Seed Germination ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Metal Speciation ◽

Municipal Sewage ◽

Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽

Industrial Sludge ◽

Metal Concentrations ◽

Aqua Regia

The environmental impact of sewage sludges depends on the availability and phytotoxicity of their heavy metal. The influence of representative sludges (industrial sludge and municipal sludge) on the availability of heavy metals, and their effects on seed germination were compared. The total heavy metal concentrations were below the maximum permitted for land applied waste and the differences among them were small. The DTPA-extracted metal concentrations were significant different. The sum of all the fractions in the slugdes was close to the total metal content as determined by extraction with aqua regia. In addition, there were significant differences in the chemical forms of the heavy metals (Hg, Ni, As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb) by the sequential extraction system. The two different sludges also affected seed germination and root elongation in different ways. The most serious adverse effects were caused by the municipal sewage sludge extract.

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