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Title: LEACHING OF METALS FROM SOILS AMENDED WITH INCINERATED SEWAGE SLUDGE

Author
item PARAMASIVAM, S - SAVANNAH STATE UNIV, GA
item SAJWAN, K - SAVANNAH STATE UNIV, GA
item Alva, Ashok
item VAN CLIEF, D - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item HOSTLER, K - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item REDDY, G - SAVANNAH STATE UNIV, GA

Submitted to: International Symposium on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2000
Publication Date: 7/1/2001
Citation: PARAMASIVAM, S., SAJWAN, K.S., ALVA, A.K., VAN CLIEF, D., HOSTLER, K.H., REDDY, G.R. LEACHING OF METALS FROM SOILS AMENDED WITH INCINERATED SEWAGE SLUDGE. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIOGEOCHEMISTRY OF TRACE ELEMENTS PROCEEDINGS. p 376. 2001.

Interpretive Summary: Application of soil amendments to agricultural soils is often recommended to improve soil physical and chemical properties, and to provide a source of plant nutrients in a cost effective manner. Considerable investigation is necessary to minimize the potential for soil as well as groundwater contamination by metals when using soil amendments that are originated from industrial wastes. The waste water treatment plants produce incinerated sewage sludge (ISS) which can be used as a soil amendment. This material was applied to two fine sandy soils, and a loamy sandy soil in a leaching column (30 cm soil column) at rates varying from 24.7 to 148.2 Mg hectare. The quantities of Cr, Zn, Cd, and Cu leached were substantially greater from the Candler fine sand, while that of Pb was greater from the Orangeberg loamy sand. In general, the quantities of all cations and metals leached from all three soils increased with increasing rate of ISS application.

Technical Abstract: Incinerated sewage sludge (ISS) from wastewater treatment plant was applied to three different soils, in a leaching column, at various rates varying from 0 to 148.2 Mg ha-1. Twelve leachate fractions were collected each at 0.4 pore volume. The cumulative amounts of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Ni in 12 leachate fractions were substantially greater from the Candler fine sand followed by Oldsmar sand and Orangeberg loamy sand. the leaching of metals increased with rate of amendment. Sand content of over 96 percent and low organic matter content of the Candler and Oldsmar fine sand provide conditions favorable for leaching of metals.