scholarly journals Evaluation of Land Potential for Use of Biosolids in the Coastal Mediterranean Karst Region

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1035
Author(s):  
Vito Horvatić ◽  
Helena Bakić Begić ◽  
Davor Romić ◽  
Marko Černe ◽  
Smiljana Goreta Ban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Karst Region ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Biosolids Application

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of agricultural land in the coastal Adriatic Karst region (Šibenik region, Croatia) for biosolids application by integrating spatial data from different sources: digital maps and remote sensing, parcel identification system, GIS field observations and measurements focusing on specific land and soil properties. Due to the rapid development of the wastewater treatment industry, excessive accumulation of sewage sludge (SS) in wastewater treatment plants is a growing problem worldwide. Management options for land application of biosolids require a comprehensive characterization of both SS and SS-amended soils. The assessment of agricultural land in the study area for SS disposal was based on EU and national legislation. The evaluation revealed that agricultural land in the study area accounts for only 10% of the total area (25,736 ha), but only a quarter of the existing land (6065 ha) is suitable for biosolids application. Furthermore, the data indicate that the sewage sludge can be safely applied to the soil in terms of soil metals according to the Croatian legislation. The short-term potential of the soil to sustain this ecosystem service, namely soil improvement with biosolids, should be used to determine the inherent long-term potential based on resistance to soil degradation and resilience. However, caution is needed and the long-term effects should be investigated before biosolids are continuously used for soil application.

scholarly journals Life cycle assessment of sewage sludge management options including long-term impacts after land application

2018 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 538-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Yoshida ◽  
Marieke ten Hoeve ◽  
Thomas H. Christensen ◽  
Sander Bruun ◽  
Lars S. Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Sludge Management ◽  
Sewage Sludge Management

scholarly journals Using bioleaching to remove metals from sewage sludge intended for land application

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Nie
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Heavy Metal Removal ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Sulphur Compounds ◽  
Recommended Level

Removal of heavy metal contaminants from sewage sludge is a necessity before it is used as an agricultural fertilizer (biosolid), due to environmental concerns and municipal, provincial and federal regulations. The bioleaching method is recommended as an economical and effective process for the removal of heavy metals from the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant (ABTP) sludge, some of them with concentrations exceeding the recommended level by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs guidelines. The Gram-negative thiobacilli is a group of organisms with physiological and morphological similarity and grows by oxidizing ferrous ion and reduced sulphur compounds. One species of thiobacillus, T. ferrooxidan , was recommended as an effective bacterium for the heavy metal removal from sewage sludge. This research involved the incubation of adapted sludge using fresh raw digested sludge and activated sludge of ABTP. Using adapted sludge for the bioleaching process, the method was tested in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) in combination with a series of jar tests. Results showed that the metal removal efficiency increases with decreasing pH, and the solids content does not affect the removal efficiency of cupper and zinc very much during short term jar test. The results from the long-term (20-day) CSTR test demonstrated that the high T ferrooxians-contained adapted sludge could remove copper from the sewage sludge of ABTP very effectively, by as much as 79.2%. In comparison, the simultaneous removal efficiency of zinc and cadmium were also studied for the same process and, they are 82.0% and 83.9% respectively. The TSS degradation constant rate during the 20 days' bioleaching was found to be 0.0522 day -1. It is concluded that Ontario should continue to apply sludge to agricultural land, as sludge is an economic alternative, promotes recycling of resources, and is a valuable fertilizer. However, the toxic metals in sludge should be removed from sewage sludge using the bioleaching process to recommended level before it is disposed as a fertilizer for land application.

Long-term land application of biosolids–a case study

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Y. Surampalli ◽  
K. C. K. Lai ◽  
S. K. Banerji ◽  
J. Smith ◽  
R. D. Tyagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Heavy Metal Accumulation ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Application Site ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Contamination Levels ◽  
Biosolids Application ◽  
Amended Soil

Impact of long-term land application of biosolids on groundwater and soil quality of an application site, which had been operated for 8–15 years, was evaluated in this study. During and after the biosolids application, biosolids-amended soil, groundwater, and background soil samples were collected mainly for pathogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metal analyses. Soil test data showed that there was no heavy metal accumulation in the biosolids-amended soil even after 10 years of biosolids application. Similar results were also observed from the groundwater samples in which the heavy metal concentrations in all groundwater samples were well below the maximum contamination levels of the drinking water standards. In addition, bacteriological levels of the soil and groundwater samples were close to the background level and below the permissible limits, respectively, thereby showing no pathogen contamination. However, nitrate-nitrogen contamination of the groundwater was occasionally observed probably due to an excess loading of the biosolids in the past. This problem can be alleviated by applying biosolids at agronomic rates so that no excess nitrogen is available for leaching down to the groundwater.

scholarly journals Sewage sludge as fertiliser – environmental assessment of storage and land application options

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1034-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Willén ◽  
C. Junestedt ◽  
L. Rodhe ◽  
M. Pell ◽  
H. Jönsson
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Large Impact ◽  
Storage Duration ◽  
Ammonia Addition ◽  
Reduce Emissions

Sewage sludge (SS) contains beneficial plant nutrients and organic matter, and therefore application of SS on agricultural land helps close nutrient loops. However, spreading operations are restricted to certain seasons and hence the SS needs to be stored. Storage and land application of SS are both potential sources of greenhouse gases and ammonia, leading to global warming, acidification and eutrophication. Covering the stored SS, treating it with urea and choosing the correct time for land application all have the potential to reduce emissions from the system. Using life cycle assessment (LCA), this study compares storage and land application options of SS in terms of global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential, eutrophication potential and primary energy use. The system with covered storage has the lowest impact of all categories. Systems with autumn application are preferable to spring application for all impact categories but, when nitrate leaching is considered, spring application is preferable in terms of eutrophication and primary energy use and, for some SS treatments, GWP. Ammonia addition reduces nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions during storage, but increases these emissions after land application. Storage duration has a large impact on GWP, while amount of chemical nitrogen fertiliser substituted has a large impact on primary energy use.

Potential for Municipal Sewage Sludge Application on Agricultural Lands in Southern Quebec

1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Vasseur ◽  
W Shipley ◽  
C Ansseau
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
System Modeling ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Municipal Sewage ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Sludge Application

Abstract In the present study, sludge composition from 112 municipalities in southern Quebec, Canada, were studied in order to examine the potential of alternative, environmentally sound sludge disposal, such as land application. Twenty-four municipalities with complete data set produced 24,000 dry tons of sludge per year. Of this amount, 47% (11,000 dry tons) could potentially be used for agricultural land application, according to Quebec standards. The other municipalities could not use their sludge for agricultural land application because of heavy metal contamination. The available areas of agricultural lands in southern Quebec are limited to about 149,454 ha. Considering that only 15% of this surface is adequate for sludge application and that a large part is already applied with manure, only 86,683 ha could be used for sludge application. Geographical Information System modeling in a smaller portion of this region showed that another 38% of land must be removed for other reasons, e.g., buffer zones around water bodies and roads. This left a surface area of approximately 54,000 ha or 5.4% of all agricultural land available for sewage sludge application in this region. Land application of sewage sludge may be possible but not without some limitations in some regions of southern Quebec. Other factors, such as pathogens contamination, climatic constraints and economic costs for the transportation and storage of sludge, must also be considered.

scholarly journals Long-Term Biosolids Applications to Overgrazed Rangelands Improve Soil Health

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1339
Author(s):  
Cassidy M. Buchanan ◽  
James A. Ippolito
Keyword(s):  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Health Indices ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Biosolids Application

Overgrazed rangelands can lead to soil degradation, yet long-term land application of organic amendments (i.e., biosolids) may play a pivotal role in improving degraded rangelands in terms of soil health. However, the long-term effects on soil health properties in response to single or repeated, low to excessive biosolids applications, on semi-arid, overgrazed grasslands have not been quantified. Using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), soil physical, biological, chemical, nutrient, and overall soil health indices between biosolids applications (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 21, or 30 Mg ha−1) and application time (single: 1991, repeated: 2002) were determined. Results showed no significant changes in soil physical and nutrient health indices. However, the chemical soil health index was greater when biosolids were applied at rates <30 Mg ha−1 and within the single compared to repeated applications. The biological soil health index was positively affected by increasing biosolids application rates, was overall greater in the repeated as compared to the single application, and was maximized at 30 Mg ha−1. The overall soil health index was maximized at rates <30 Mg ha−1. When all indices were combined, and considering past plant community findings at this site, overall soil health appeared optimized at a biosolids application rate of ~10 Mg ha−1. The use of soil health tools can help determine a targeted organic amendment application rate to overgrazed rangelands so the material provides maximum benefits to soils, plants, animals, and the environment.

scholarly journals Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge as a Threat of Microplastic (MP) Spread in the Environment and the Role of Governance

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6293
Author(s):  
Natalia Milojevic ◽  
Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Sludge Management ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
The Impact

Sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants is commonly used as a soil amendment on agricultural land. Unfortunately, more and more research indicates that large amounts of microplastic (MP) are re-introduced to soil with sludge. This study aims to present the impact MP has on soil ecosystems, global trends in agricultural sludge management resulting from a high concentration of micropollutants in sludge, and finally propose a high-level strategy for sustainable sludge management. This strategy is mostly dedicated to the European Union and involves multiple stakeholders and the links between each of them to achieve appropriate sludge management to avoid soil pollution with MP. Governance, Technology, Consumer Acceptance, and Economy and Commercial Viability is explored in depth. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper to discuss these topics in the context of a changing agricultural scene and identifies ways of which sewage sludge can limit MP pollution whilst still fitting into a circular economy. As total elimination of agriculturally used sludge is not a viable option, more stringent regulation on sludge quality before its use is necessary, especially on contaminant concentrations. This includes MPs limits, to improve sludge quality, in turn improving soil health. More alternative management options for sludge that does not meet land usage requirements are necessary and will be explored in this study. Overall, the combination of factors discussed will inevitably lead to more emphasis on sewage sludge management, therefore it can be expected that the information presented in this review will be of high demand and importance for sludge producers and serves as a comprehensive foundation for researchers to build off.

Land application of sewage sludge: scientific perspectives of heavy metal loading limits in Europe and the United States

1994 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. McGrath ◽  
A. C. Chang ◽  
A. L. Page ◽  
E. Witter
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
The United States ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Balance Approach ◽  
Basic Approaches

Heavy metals in sewage sludges accumulate in soils after successive sludge applications and can be toxic to plants, soil organisms, as well as humans and animals along the food chain. Because of this potential threat, many countries have set limits to the additions of metals in sludges to agricultural land, based on (i) the concentrations of metals in sludge itself, (ii) the loading, or total amount, of metal that can be added and often how quickly this can be applied, and (iii) the maximum concentrations of metals in soil which are allowed to build up after sludge applications. This review, based on regulations in the United States and some west European countries, shows that at present three basic approaches to setting limits can be distinguished: (i) a comprehensive analysis of the pathways of pollutant transfer to selected target organisms and an assessment of the likely harmful effects that metals may have on the target; (ii) setting limits consistent with the lowest observed adverse effect concentrations, which are actual cases of effects due to metals, but not necessarily derived from studies that involved land application of sewage sludge; and (iii) attempting to match the metal inputs to soil to the small losses of metals due to crop removal, soil erosion, and leaching ("metal balance approach"). These approaches are shown to result in widely different numerical limits being set for the same constituent, which is creating unease among the regulatory authorities worldwide. These differences appear to arise from at least two main sources. The first is whether, by a policy decision, zero impact is desired. This leads to very low limits, and is the philosophy behind the metal balance approach. The second is that those approaches that allow some increase in metal concentrations in soils often adopt different target organisms and these models suffer from the limited supply of relevant toxicity data, particularly information obtained from metals applied in sewage sludge. Differences in the philosophy behind environmental protection and in the choices of which organisms to protect explain the different metal limits for sewage sludge which have been adopted in the countries examined.Key words: zinc, cadmium, copper, chromium, nickel, lead, mercury, soil microbes, ecotoxicology, soil protection.

scholarly journals Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sewage Sludge from Cluj-Napoca Wastewater Treatment Plant

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-389
Author(s):  
Livia ALHAFEZ ◽  
Nicoleta MUNTEAN ◽  
Edward MUNTEAN ◽  
Dumitru RISTOIU
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Pumping System ◽  
Ultrasonic Assisted ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds widely distributed in the  environment.  In  the  present  work, concentrations  of  these  organic  compounds  in  sludge samples  from  Cluj-Napoca  wastewater  treatment  plant  are  reported.  The  objective  was  to investigate PAHs in sludge from wastewater treatment plant and to assess their potential for land application. Primary sludge, fermented sludge, fermented concentrated sludge, anaerobic-digested dehydrated  sludge  and  rejection  water  samples  were  collected  monthly  from  December  2012. Ultrasonic assisted extraction with hexane was used, being followed by filtration and concentration to  dryness  in  a  rotary  evaporator;  the  obtained  residue  was  redisolved  in  acetonitrile.  High performance  liquid  chromatographic  analysis  was  achieved  using  an  Agilent  1100  system consisting in a solvent degasser, a quaternary pumping system, an autosampler, a column oven, a diode-array  detector  and  a  fluorescence  detector.  Separations  were  accomplished  using  an Envirosep  PP  column  with  acetonitrile:water  as  mobile  phase  (45:55  v/v).  Detection  limit  was 0.001 g/  kg,  with  good  linearities  for all  PAHs,  with  correlation  coefficients  higher  than  0.998. PAHs with four rings appeared to be the primary components in most of the tested sludge samples, the  highest  concentration  levels  being  in  anaerobic-digested  dehydrated  sludge  samples.  The obtained results can be helpful for the regional policy makers to make proper decisions on treating the  increasing  amount  of  sewage  sludge,  to  provide  practical  reference  for  establishing  threshold values  of  PAHs  for  land  application  of  sludge,  knowing  that  the  practice  of  recycling  sewage sludge onto agricultural lands poses an additional risk of soil contamination with PAHs.

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