scholarly journals Optimal Solutions for the Use of Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Lands

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 585
Author(s):  
Catalina Iticescu ◽  
Puiu-Lucian Georgescu ◽  
Maxim Arseni ◽  
Adrian Rosu ◽  
Mihaela Timofti ◽  
...  

The use of sewage sludge in agriculture decreases the pressure on landfills. In Romania, massive investments have been made in wastewater treatment stations, which have resulted in the accumulation of important quantities of sewage sludge. The presence of these sewage sludges coincides with large areas of degraded agricultural land. The aim of the present article is to identify the best technological combinations meant to solve these problems simultaneously. Adapting the quality and parameters of the sludge to the specificity of the land solves the possible compatibility problems, thus reducing the impact on the environment. The physico-chemical characteristics of the fermented sludge were monitored and optimal solutions for their treatment were suggested so as to allow that the sludge could be used in agriculture according to the characteristics of the soils. The content of heavy metals in the sewage sludge was closely monitored because the use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer does not allow for any increases in the concentrations of these in soils. The article identifies those agricultural areas which are suitable for the use of sludge, as well as ways of correcting some parameters (e.g., pH), which allow the improvement of soil quality and obtained higher agricultural production.

Author(s):  
Pedro Alexandre Sodrzeieski ◽  
Leonardo Capeleto de Andrade ◽  
Tales Tiecher ◽  
Flávio Anastácio de Oliveira Camargo

Dilúvio Stream flows through an area with a great population density in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. The anthropogenic influence in the surroundings impacted negatively the quality of the sediments of Dilúvio Stream and Lake Guaíba. This study evaluated the physico-chemical variability of surface sediments in a non-channeled section of Dilúvio Stream. Additionally, we compared the concentration of several heavy metals in this section with data from previous studies in the margins of Lake Guaíba near the outflow of Dilúvio Stream in order to evaluate the impact of urbanization on sediment pollution. The pH, bulk density, particle-size distribution, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, assimilable phosphorus, total nitrogen, mineralogical composition (X-ray diffractogram) and pseudo total concentration of several metals (Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Ba, Zn, V, As, Pb, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, Mo, and Se) were evaluated. The results showed that the sediments in the non-channeled section of Dilúvio Stream are predominantly sandy, with heavy metal contents below the quality reference values. Quartz and feldspar predominated in all sites. The concentration of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Ni were lower than that observed in the margins of Lake Guaíba near the outflow of Dilúvio Stream, possibly due to pollution input throughout the channeled section. The Dilúvio Stream shows indications of an anthropogenic influence in the heavy metals concentration through the channeled area.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
M T Morera ◽  
J. Echeverría ◽  
J. Garrido

The recycling of sewage sludge to agricultural land results in the slow accumulation of potentially toxic heavy metals in soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the bioavailability of Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn applied to soils in urban anaerobically stabilized sewage sludge. The soils were Lithic Haplumbrept (Lh), Calcixerollic Xerochrept (Cx1 and Cx2) and Paralithic Xerorthent (Px). Sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L) were grown in the soils following amendment with the sludge. The addition of sewage sludge markedly increased the average dry weight of the plants in the soils that had lower yields without sludge addition (Lh, Cx2, and Px). The acid pH of the Lh soil favoured the bioavailability of Zn from sewage sludge. The bioavailability of Cu was greater in the alkaline soils than in the acidic soil (Lh), which can be attributed to the high organic matter content of the Lh soil which complexes Cu and impairs its uptake by the plants. The concentration of metals in the plants increased with the sewage sludge dose. The effect of the soil type on the metal concentration in plants was greater that the effect of the dose. Key words: Soils, sewage sludge, heavy metals, bioavailability, sunflower


Author(s):  
Justyna Kujawska ◽  
Katarzyna Wójcik-Oliveira

Sewage sludge and its management constitute one of the most important environmental problems. The introduced the Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC advocate utilization of sewage sludge in agriculture. However, this method is limited mainly by the availability of heavy metals and pathogens. An ecotoxicological assessment of sewage sludge doses applied to soil, recommended in the Polish Regulation of the Minister of Environment of 6th February 2015 on municipial sewage sludge, was carried out. The sewage sludge was added to soil in the amounts of 3, 6, 9, and 15 Mg/ha. The produced mixtures were subjected to physicochemical and ecotoxicological tests, involving the biomass and mortality tests of Eisenia fetida earthworms. The sewage sludge had a statistically significant impact on the increase in: electrical conductivity, total exchangeable cations, organic matter content, organic carbon, nitrogen and heavy metals of the considered soil. The impact on the biomass of earthworms was different; after 7 days in the mixtures with 3 Mg/ha and 6 Mg/ha sewage sludge addition, the biomass increased approximately by 1.3-fold, in comparison to non-modified soil. At 9 Mg/ha, it reduced by 1.3-fold, whereas at 15 Mg/ha – by 16-fold, in relation to the initial value. The studies indicated that the ecotoxicological assessment of wastes may be employed as environmental safety control measure of the sewage sludge application in agriculture.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-75
Author(s):  
Elena Belova ◽  
Yuliya Rozenfeld

The subject of the study presented in this article is the economic relations arising due to the progress of the urbanization that leads to changes in agricultural production. For a long time in Russia a reduction of agricultural land, arable land and crops takes place. One reason for this is the global progress of urbanization. Changes in agricultural land use occur across the country however this process is uneven in different regions. Among all regions Moscow and Moscow region significantly stand out. The study showed that in the more urbanized regions of the country reduction of the agricultural land and changes in agricultural land use are greater than in less urbanized ones.


1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 413-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Qiao ◽  
Goen Ho

When sewage sludge is used as a soil conditioner, heavy metal contamination can limit its application rates. The potential hazard of heavy metals is, however, dependent on the physico-chemical forms of the metals in the sludge and soil. Bauxite refining residue (red mud) has been used to reduce the mobility and availability of heavy metals in municipal solid waste compost. In the present research a sequential step extraction was employed to investigate metal speciation (into exchangeable, bound to carbonate, to Mn & Fe oxides, to organic matter and in residue phase) and the effect of red mud on metal speciation in sewage sludge for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. The effect of red mud addition on metal distribution in sewage sludge compost was significant. Red mud addition can effectively reduce the metal mobility and the potential hazard of releasing metals from sludge due to the further breakdown of organic matter. Drying of sludge makes heavy metals more available. Red mud addition will be desirable in such a case. Plant available metals (determined by DTPA extraction) are, however, not as effectively reduced except for Pb and Zn.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Wiebusch ◽  
Carl Franz Seyfried

Several aspects of using ashes from sewage sludge incineration in the brick and tile industry have been examined. After discussing the item of ash production in Germany, the impact of different wastewater treatment methods is described; for instance, the use of precipitation agents containing iron will considerably influence the ash quality. Depending on their respective chemical composition, different ashes have different effects on the ceramic qualities of the bricks made of clay blended with ashes. These effects will be shown in regard to the major ceramic parameters. Similarly, the quality of the ashes also influences the elution behaviour and the mineral fixation of heavy metals.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Popa ◽  
Mihaela Timofti ◽  
Mirela Voiculescu ◽  
Silvia Dragan ◽  
Catalin Trif ◽  
...  

This study investigates the level of wastewater pollution by analyzing its chemical characteristics at five wastewater collectors. Samples are collected before they discharge into the Danube during a monitoring campaign of two weeks. Organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals, and biogenic compounds have been analyzed using potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods. Experimental results show that the quality of wastewater varies from site to site and it greatly depends on the origin of the wastewater. Correlation analysis was used in order to identify possible relationships between concentrations of various analyzed parameters, which could be used in selecting the appropriate method for wastewater treatment to be implemented at wastewater plants.


2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 307-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Béchet ◽  
B. Durin ◽  
M. Legret ◽  
P. Le Cloirec

The thickness of non-saturated zone and physico-chemical conditions are important parameters to assess the impact of infiltration ponds on water resources with respect to heavy metals transfer. As changes in physico-chemical parameters of solutions have a strong impact on the mobility of colloidal phases in sediments and soils, the colloidal facilitated transfer of heavy metals has to be investigated. Therefore, this study focuses on the characterization of runoff, surface and interstitial waters in a retention/infiltration pond collecting runoff waters of a bridge near Nantes. Physico-chemical parameters and chemical analyses were performed on the waters during about one year. The separation of dissolved and colloidal fractions was carried out by filtration and ultrafiltration for one sample of surface and interstitial waters. Until now, the runoff waters were only filtered at 0.45 μm. The comparison of physico-chemical data shows that the minor variations of runoff water parameters are mitigated in basin and in soils but strong variations impact the composition of interstitial waters. High concentrations of zinc, copper and still of lead are measured in runoff. Lead and cadmium seem to be associated to colloidal and particulate fractions while zinc, copper, nickel and chromium are distributed in all fractions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (46) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Alexander Saakian ◽  
◽  

The article presents the results of long-term agroecological monitoring of the state of Russian land resources: the dynamics of changes in agrochemical and physico-chemical indicators, the content of organic matter and elements of mineral nutrition of plants in soils; crop productivity; contamination of soils and products with residual amounts of pesticides, oil and petroleum products, heavy metals, nitrates, radionuclides; the problems of erosion and reclamation of agricultural land are highlighted. Ключевые слова: AGROECOLOGICAL MONITORING, HUMUS, MOBILE PHOSPHORUS, EXCHANGE POTASSIUM, ACIDITY, CHEMICAL RECLAMATION, LIMING, PHOSPHORIZATION, GYPSUM, PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS, YIELD, FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDE RESIDUES, OIL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, HEAVY METALS, NITRATES, WATER AND WIND EROSION OF SOILS, LAND RECLAMATION


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