Availability of toxic metals in saline-sodic soils treated with sewage sludges and biosolids

An alternative to valorize sludge generated by wastewater treatment is to use it as soil improver. Sludge may contain organic matter and minerals that are beneficial to soil. However, it could also have pathogens, metals and toxic organic compounds. Therefore, it is important to treat the sludge app...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Beltrán Hernández, Rosa Icela, Lucho Constantino, Carlos Alexander, Vázquez Rodríguez, Gabriela A., Coronel Olivares, Claudia, González Sandoval, María del Refugio, Lizárraga Mendiola, Liliana
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DEL ESTADO DE HIDALGO
Repositorio:PÄDI Boletín Científico de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería del ICBI
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:repository.uaeh.edu.mx:article/566
Acceso en línea:https://repository.uaeh.edu.mx/revistas/index.php/icbi/article/view/566
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:waste valorization, saline-sodic soil, biosolids
valorización de residuos, suelos salino-sódicos, biosólidos
Descripción
Sumario:An alternative to valorize sludge generated by wastewater treatment is to use it as soil improver. Sludge may contain organic matter and minerals that are beneficial to soil. However, it could also have pathogens, metals and toxic organic compounds. Therefore, it is important to treat the sludge appropriately, to transform it into a chemically and biologically safe product, biosolids. In this work, we studied the availability of the most abundant elements in a saline-sodic soil, which was treated in different ways involving the addition of sludge and biosolids. The Tessier fractionation technique was used for this purpose. Regardless of the treatment, the largest proportion of Na (95%), K (86%) and Ca (57%) was found in fraction 2 (F2), corresponding to metals bound to carbonates; Mg (85%) and Pb (59%) were found in F1, as exchangeable metals; while 46% of Cr was found in the F5, combined with minerals, and only 20% in F1. These results indicate that Mg and Pb are the most available metals and represent the greatest risk, because of their concentration and toxicity, respectively. Na, K, Ca and Cr (in F1) might be available if the soil pH decreased. Acidification would be recommended only if it is combined with a washing treatment to remove excess of Cr and Na.