Co-pyrolysis of sludge and kaolin/zeolite in a rotary kiln: Analysis of stabilizing heavy metals

• Adding kaolin/zeolite promotes the formation of stable heavy metals. • The potential ecological risk index of co-pyrolysis biochar is extremely low. • Increasing the pyrolysis temperature reduces the leaching toxicity of heavy metals. • The toxicity of biochar reduces with the increasing content of stable heavy metals. Pyrolysis is a promising technique used for treating of sewage sludge. However, the application of pyrolysis products is limited due to the presence of heavy metals. In this study, sewage sludge mixed with kaolin/zeolite was pyrolyzed in a rotary kiln, aiming to improve the immobilization of heavy metals in pyrolytic carbon. The total concentrations, speciation distributions, leaching toxicities, and potential ecological risk indices of heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar were explored to examine the effects of kaolin/zeolite and pyrolytic temperature on immobilizing heavy metals. Further, mineral composition and surface morphology of biochar were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the potential mechanism of immobilizing heavy metals. Increasing pyrolysis temperature facilitated the stabilization of heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar. The proportions of stable heavy metals in biochar obtained at 650℃ were 54.50% (Cu), 29.73% (Zn), 79.29% (Cd), 68.17% (Pb) and 86.70% (Cr). Compared to sewage sludge, the potential contamination risk index of pyrolysis biochar obtained at 650℃ was reduced to 17.01, indicating a low ecological risk. The addition of 7% kaolin/zeolite further reduced the risk index of co-pyrolysis biochar prepared at 650℃ to 10.86/15.28. The characterization of biochar revealed that increase in the pyrolysis temperature and incorporation of additives are conducive to the formation of stable heavy metal-inorganics. This study demonstrates that the formation of stable mineral compounds containing heavy metals is the key to stabilizing heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar.     

污泥土地利用对土壤中重金属形态的影响

土地利用是资源化利用城市污水厂污泥的有效途径，随污泥中的营养成分一起进入土壤中的还有其中的重金属元素，它们有可能成为一种环境安全的隐患。本实验所用的土壤为污泥经过无害化及稳定化处理后，与上海潮滩沙土按不同比例(干污泥质量比)混配而成。种植前后分别对沙土、污泥及混配土的重金属含量及形态进行测试。选择几种花卉植物，如菊花(Calendula officinalis）等进行植物种植试验，一个生长季后对植物中的重金属含量及形态进行测试。应用Tessler连续提取法，对污泥中的重金属进入土壤后，土壤中重金属的含量、赋存状态等方面的规律进行研究，发现污泥的土地利用会明显增加土壤中的重金属含量，而且重金属的形态也有明显的变化，可交换态和碳酸盐结合态的重金属含量有明显的增加；如长期使用，则必须采取相应的措施，以消除有害的影响。     

施用城市污泥对土壤生态系统影响的研究进展

城市污泥的合理处置已成为目前环境科学研究领域中的重要课题。因污泥富含有机质和有效营养成分,对土壤改良有积极的促进作用,所以污泥的土地利用普遍被认为是一种积极、有效的处置方式。鉴于此,本文就国内外施用城市污泥对土壤生态系统的．影响及相关的过程和机理进行了综述。结果显示,施用污泥可改善土壤理化性质,提高土壤有机质和氮、磷等养分元素的含量,其改良作用因污泥类型而异。污泥对土壤重金属的积累有所影响,特别是在酸雨频发地区或者长期施用污泥,可能会带来重金属Gu污染的环境风险。污泥普遍有利于提高土壤酶活性,譬如土壤淀粉酶、脲酶和蔗糖酶活性,但污泥施用过量或时间延长,则会抑制多酚氧化酶和磷酸酶的活性,而污泥对过氧化氢酶的影响则不大。污泥对土壤微生物特性短期内有积极的影响,但长期则有负面作用。施用污泥可导致土壤动物活性的增加,但也会对一些土壤动物产生毒性,譬如异壳介虫属和弹尾目昆虫,而且污泥毒性不仅取决于污泥用量,土壤类型也起着重要作用。基于上述分析和评述,提出了未来研究展望如下：（1）针对污泥施用后土壤生态系统生物、物理和化学过程和机理进行系统、综合的基础研究;（2）对污泥土地利用进行长期的系统定位试验和环境监测,并对之进行环境风险评价;（3）对污泥稳定化处理技术的创新及其应用研究。     

Heavy metals from soil and domestic sewage sludge and their transfer to Sorghum plants

We studied the mobility and transport of heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb, from soil and soil amended with sewage sludge to sorghum plants. The total and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) extractable heavy metals in agricultural soil and untreated domestic sewage sludge (DWS) samples were determined. The correlation between the total and extractable metals in soil and sewage sludge was investigated. The total and extractable heavy metals in soil, sewage sludge and sorghum grain were analysed by flame and electro thermal atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS/ETAAS), after digestion in microwave oven. Statistically good correlations were obtained between the total contents of all heavy metals and their respective extractable fractions in soil and domestic wastewater sludge. Transfer factors of all heavy metals from domestic sewage sludge to sorghum grains were determined.     

Efficacy of woody biomass and biochar for alleviating heavy metal bioavailability in serpentine soil

Crops grown in metal-rich serpentine soils are vulnerable to phytotoxicity. In this study, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) biomass and woody biochar were examined as amendments on heavy metal immobilization in a serpentine soil. Woody biochar was produced by slow pyrolysis of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) biomass at 300 and 500 °C. A pot experiment was conducted for 6 weeks with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) at biochar application rates of 0, 22, 55 and 110 t ha^?1. The CaCl₂ and sequential extractions were adopted to assess metal bioavailability and fractionation. Six weeks after germination, plants cultivated on the control could not survive, while all the plants were grown normally on the soils amended with biochars. The most effective treatment for metal immobilization was BC500-110 as indicated by the immobilization efficiencies for Ni, Mn and Cr that were 68, 92 and 42 %, respectively, compared to the control. Biochar produced at 500 °C and at high application rates immobilized heavy metals significantly. Improvements in plant growth in biochar-amended soil were related to decreasing in metal toxicity as a consequence of metal immobilization through strong sorption due to high surface area and functional groups.     

The effect of two different biochars on remediation of Cd-contaminated soil and Cd uptake by Lolium perenne

Biochar can be widely used to reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals in contaminated soil because of its adsorption capacity. But there are few studies about the effects of biochar on cadmium uptake by plants in soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd). Therefore, an incubation experiment was used to investigate the effects of rice straw biochar (RSBC) and coconut shell biochar (CSBC) on Cd immobilization in contaminated soil and, subsequently, Cd uptake by Lolium perenne. The results showed that the microbial counts and soil enzyme activities were significantly increased by biochar in Cd-contaminated soil, which were consistent with the decrease of the bioavailability of Cd by biochar. HOAc-extractable Cd in soil decreased by 11.3–22.6% in treatments with 5% RSBC and by 7.2–17.1% in treatments with 5% CSBC, respectively, compared to controls. The content of available Cd in biochar treatments was significantly lower than in controls, and these differences were more obvious in treatment groups with 5% biochar. The Cd concentration in L. perenne reduced by 4.47–26.13% with biochar. However, the biomass of L. perenne increased by 1.35–2.38 times after adding biochar amendments. So, Cd uptake by whole L. perenne was augmented by RSBC and CSBC. Accordingly, this work suggests that RSBC and CSBC have the potential to be used as a useful aided phytoremediation technology in Cd-contaminated soil.

     

Materials,fuels, upgrading,economy, and life cycle assessment of the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass: a review

Climate change issues are calling for advanced methods to produce materials and fuels in a carbon–neutral and circular way. For instance, biomass pyrolysis has been intensely investigated during the last years. Here we review the pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass with focus on pyrolysis products and mechanisms, oil upgrading, combining pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion, economy, and life cycle assessment. Products include oil, gas, and biochar. Upgrading techniques comprise hot vapor filtration, solvent addition, emulsification, esterification and transesterification, hydrotreatment, steam reforming, and the use of supercritical fluids. We examined the economic viability in terms of profitability, internal rate of return, return on investment, carbon removal service, product pricing, and net present value. We also reviewed 20 recent studies of life cycle assessment. We found that the pyrolysis method highly influenced product yield, ranging from 9.07 to 40.59% for oil, from 10.1 to 41.25% for biochar, and from 11.93 to 28.16% for syngas. Feedstock type, pyrolytic temperature, heating rate, and reaction retention time were the main factors controlling the distribution of pyrolysis products. Pyrolysis mechanisms include bond breaking, cracking, polymerization and re-polymerization, and fragmentation. Biochar from residual forestry could sequester 2.74 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton biochar when applied to the soil and has thus the potential to remove 0.2–2.75 gigatons of atmospheric carbon dioxide annually. The generation of biochar and bio-oil from the pyrolysis process is estimated to be economically feasible.

     

生物炭施用对矿区污染农田土壤上油菜生长和重金属富集的影响

矿山的生产活动往往会造成周边农田的污染,而利用生物炭技术治理矿区周边污染农田土壤具有重要的现实意义。生物炭是指生物质在无氧或限氧条件下热裂解制备而成的一种细粒度、多孔性的环境友好型材料,其在调控温室气体排放,改良土壤性状,促进植物生长和控制环境污染物迁移转化方面应用潜力巨大。采用室内盆栽模拟实验,研究了不同水稻秸秆生物炭施用量（0、1%、5%）对郴州和龙岩地区矿山周边重金属污染的农田土壤的生化性状、油菜（Brassia campestris L.）产量、重金属累积和富集系数等的影响,为生物炭作为环境功能材料应用于矿山污染农田治理提供科学依据。结果表明：与对照相比,施加1%和5%生物炭均能提高土壤pH值和有机质质量分数,提升幅度随施用量的增加而升高,其中偏酸性的龙岩土壤的变化幅度更大;生物炭施用会影响土壤酶活性,5%生物炭处理下两种受试土壤中脲酶和过氧化物酶活性均显著提高,但酸性磷酸酶活性降低;龙岩土壤上的油菜产量在1%和5%生物炭施用处理下均显著提高,而郴州土壤上的油菜产量在1%生物炭处理下无显著变化,而在5%生物炭处理下降低了42.9%;生物炭施用影响了两种土壤上油菜可食部分重金属Cd、As和Pb的质量分数,但没有一致的规律;与对照相比,生物炭施用后郴州和龙岩土壤上油菜可食部分中Cd质量分数均出现下降趋势,但是仅5%生物炭处理的龙岩土壤具显著性差异;1%和5%生物炭施用处理使两种受试土壤上油菜可食部分Pb质量分数较对照处理显著降低（P〈0.05）,但降幅不同,郴州土壤降低了23.6%和22.0%,而偏酸性的龙岩土壤降低了82.1%和94.5%;生物炭施用后两种受试土壤上油菜可食部分As质量分数的变化不同,郴州土壤添加生物炭后油菜As质量分数呈上升趋势,且增量随生物炭施用量增加而升高,龙岩土壤则相反,1     

A “Seawater-in-Sludge” approach for capacitive biochar production via the alkaline and alkaline earth metals activation

• Capacitive biochar was produced from sewage sludge. • Seawater was proved to be an alternative activation agent. • Minerals vaporization increased the surface area of biochar. • Molten salts acted as natural templates for the development of porous structure. Sewage sludge is a potential precursor for biochar production, but its effective utilization involves costly activation steps. To modify biochar properties while ensuring cost-effectiveness, we examined the feasibility of using seawater as an agent to activate biochar produced from sewage sludge. In our proof-of-concept study, seawater was proven to be an effective activation agent for biochar production, achieving a surface area of 480.3 m²/g with hierarchical porosity distribution. Benefited from our design, the catalytic effect of seawater increased not only the surface area but also the graphitization degree of biochar when comparing the pyrolysis of sewage sludge without seawater. This leads to seawater activated biochar electrodes with lower resistance, higher capacitance of 113.9 F/g comparing with control groups without seawater. Leveraging the global increase in the salinity of groundwater, especially in coastal areas, these findings provide an opportunity for recovering a valuable carbon resource from sludge.     

不同来源重金属污染的土壤对水稻的影响

采用人工污染土壤、尾矿砂、污泥等不同载体的污染源来模拟土壤污染 ,研究其对水稻生长、吸收养分和吸收重金属的影响。结果表明 ,不同污染载体对水稻生长的影响不同 ,其影响的大小顺序为人工污染土壤 >尾矿砂 >污泥 >尾矿砂 +污泥。不同污染载体对水稻吸收重金属的影响亦不同 ,以纯化学试剂的形式添加到土壤中的重金属最易被提取出来 ,植物从中吸收的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd最多 ,而从以污泥为污染载体的土壤中吸收的Zn、Pb、Cd最少。研究表明 ,用添加纯化学试剂的方法来模拟污染土壤对生态与环境的影响是可行的 ,确定土壤负载容量是安全的 ,因为在实验条件下它对供试植物的影响最明显     

Effect of clay minerals on extractability of heavy metals and sewage sludge mineralization in soil

An incubation experiment lasting 111 d was carried out to study the effect of the addition of three clay minerals (Na-bentonite, Ca-bentonite, and zeolite) to soil derived from sewage sludge on water-extractable and exchangeable forms of four heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ni), as well as on soil organic matter mineralization, microbial biomass C and the release of inorganic N. The addition of clay minerals led to a significant decrease in water-extractable and exchangeable forms of heavy metals. The extent of decrease ranged from 14 to 75% for the water-extractable heavy metals and from 12 to 42% for the exchangeable form over the incubation time, as compared with untreated soil. The reduction in extractability of heavy metals was greater due to the addition of Na-bentonite and Ca-bentonite than that due to the addition of zeolite. Addition of clay minerals did not affect any of the following microbiological parameters in the soil: microbial biomass C, organic C (C_org) mineralization, and metabolic quotient (qCO₂), and release of inorganic N during the first 3 weeks of incubation. However, as the incubation period increased, these parameters were significantly increased by the addition of clay minerals, especially by the addition of Na-bentonite and Ca-bentonite. This result is explained by a strong reduction in extractability of heavy metals after the addition of Na-bentonite and Ca-bentonite.     

Methods to prepare biosorbents and magnetic sorbents for water treatment: a review

Access to drinkable water is becoming more and more challenging due to worldwide pollution and the cost of water treatments. Water and wastewater treatment by adsorption on solid materials is usually cheap and effective in removing contaminants, yet classical adsorbents are not sustainable because they are derived from fossil fuels, and they can induce secondary pollution. Therefore, biological sorbents made of modern biomass are increasingly studied as promising alternatives. Indeed, such biosorbents utilize biological waste that would otherwise pollute water systems, and they promote the circular economy. Here we review biosorbents, magnetic sorbents, and other cost-effective sorbents with emphasis on preparation methods, adsorbents types, adsorption mechanisms, and regeneration of spent adsorbents. Biosorbents are prepared from a wide range of materials, including wood, bacteria, algae, herbaceous materials, agricultural waste, and animal waste. Commonly removed contaminants comprise dyes, heavy metals, radionuclides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. Preparation methods include coprecipitation, thermal decomposition, microwave irradiation, chemical reduction, micro-emulsion, and arc discharge. Adsorbents can be classified into activated carbon, biochar, lignocellulosic waste, clays, zeolites, peat, and humic soils. We detail adsorption isotherms and kinetics. Regeneration methods comprise thermal and chemical regeneration and supercritical fluid desorption. We also discuss exhausted adsorbent management and disposal. We found that agro-waste biosorbents can remove up to 68–100% of dyes, while wooden, herbaceous, bacterial, and marine-based biosorbents can remove up to 55–99% of heavy metals. Animal waste-based biosorbents can remove 1–99% of heavy metals. The average removal efficiency of modified biosorbents is around 90–95%, but some treatments, such as cross-linked beads, may negatively affect their efficiency.

     

农田重金属污染原位钝化修复研究进展

污染土壤重金属原位钝化修复是通过向土壤中施加一些活性钝化修复材料,通过溶解沉淀、离子交换吸附、氧化还原、有机络合等反应来改变重金属在土壤中的赋存状态,降低土壤中重金属的有效浓度、迁移性和生物有效性。这种方法成本较低、操作简单、见效快且适合大面积推广,在重金属污染土壤修复中有着不可替代的作用。尤其对主要由污水灌溉、大气沉降等造成的农田土壤面源污染,一些具有吸附固定土壤中重金属离子特性的天然物质和工业副产品都可运用在实地的钝化修复中,且不同类型的钝化修复剂对重金属污染土壤的钝化修复效果各不相同。采用实验室评价和实地应用评价,一方面可以评估钝化修复材料对污染土壤中重金属离子的固定效率;另一方面可以评估钝化修复材料对土壤理化性状、养分状况和生物活性的影响。对重金属污染土壤原位钝化修复中不同来源的钝化剂进行了分类,目前广泛使用的钝化修复剂主要包括硅钙物质、含磷材料、有机物料、黏土矿物、金属及金属氧化物、生物碳及新型材料等,概述了它们各自对重金属污染土壤的钝化修复效果。从研究方法、评价指标、环境影响因子、钝化机制以及环境风险评价等方面分析了该领域的研究现状以及存在的主要问题,今后应重点关注钝化修复剂对土壤-作物系统的潜在环境风险以及钝化材料修复效果的田间长期稳定性评价。     

The correlation of total and extractable heavy metals from soil and domestic sewage sludge and their transfer to maize ( Zea mays L.) plants

A study to understand the mobility and transport of heavy metals (HMs) from soil and soil amended with sewage sludge to maize plants was carried out. The total and ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA)-extractable HMs in agricultural soil and untreated domestic sewage sludge samples, and the correlation between the total and extractable metals in soil and sewage sludge were carried out. Pot experiments were performed to study the transfer of HMs to maize grains, grown in soil (control) and in soil amended with sewage sludge (test samples). The total and extractable HMs in soil, sewage sludge, and maize grains were analysed by FAAS/ETAAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometer/electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer) after digestion in microwave oven. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between the total contents of Cu, Cd, As and their respective extractable fractions in soil, while in domestic wastewater sludge (DWS) the better correlation was observed only for Ni and Cd. The edible part of maize plants (grains) from test samples presented high concentration of Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu, As, and Cr concentrations (80.7–85.6, 3.8–3.95, 2.35–2.5, 0.75–0.82, 3.21–3.29, 0.23–0.27, and 0.22–0.29?mg?kg^?1, respectively). Good correlations were found between metals in exchangeable fractions of both soil and DWS and total metals in control and test samples of maize grains. The transfer factor of all HMs from DWS to maize grains was also determined.     

Sewage sludge ditch for recovering heavy metals can improve crop yield and soil environmental quality

• Indirect use of sludge in ditches alongside plants was tested in field experiments. • The dried and stabilized sludge in ditches was recovered with heavy metals. • Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in the planted soil were all in a safe range. • The indirect use of sludge increased plant yield, soil N content and C storage. The treatment and disposal of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is an urgent problem to be resolved in many countries. Safely using the nutrients within MSS to increase crop yield and enhance the fertility of poor soil could contribute to achieving sustainable development. An indirect use of MSS in ditches alongside Pennisetum hybridum plants was studied in field plots for 30 months and the contents of heavy metals and macronutrients were monitored in soil, sludge and plant samples. We found that the yield of P. hybridum was significantly increased by 2.39 to 2.80 times and the treated plants had higher N content compared with no sludge. In addition, the organic matter (OM) and N contents in the planted soil increased significantly compared with the initial soil. The OM content in the planted soil of the MSS treatment was 2.9 to 5.2 times higher than that with no sludge, and N increased by 2.0 to 3.8 times. However, MSS had no significant effect on the N, P and K contents in the soil at the bottom of the MSS ditch, and the content of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) were also within the safe range. Moreover, the moisture content and phytotoxicity of MSS after this indirect use were reduced and the heavy metal contents changed little, which is favorable to the further disposal of recovered MSS. Therefore, this indirect use of MSS is beneficial to agricultural production, soil quality and environmental sustainability.     

Possible solutions for sludge dewatering in China

In China, over 1.43×10⁷ tons of dewatered sewage sludge, with 80% water content, were generated from wastewater treatment plants in 2007. About 60% of the COD removed during the wastewater treatment process becomes concentrated as sludge. Traditional disposal methods used by municipal solid waste treatment facilities, such as landfills, composting, or incineration, are unsuitable for sludge disposal because of its high water content. Disposal of sludge has therefore become a major focus of current environmental protection policies. The present status of sludge treatment and disposal methodology is introduced in this paper. Decreasing the energy consumption of sludge dewatering from 80% to 50% has been a key issue for safe and economic sludge disposal. In an analysis of sludge water distribution, thermal drying and hydrothermal conditioning processes are compared. Although thermal drying could result in an almost dry sludge, the energy consumption needed for this process is extremely high. In comparison, hydrothermal technology could achieve dewatered sewage sludge with a 50%–60% water content, which is suitable for composting, incineration, or landfill. The energy consumption of hydrothermal technology is lower than that required for thermal drying.     

可控湿法氧化聚沉工艺对城市污泥中重金属的稳定化影响

采集了长沙市污水厂的剩余污泥（S1）和湿法氧化聚沉工艺处理的深度脱水污泥（S2）,对比分析了处理前后污泥的形貌变化及重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As的形态分布,初步探讨了重金属稳定化机理,对脱水污泥中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As进行了稳定性评估.结果表明,脱水污泥中重金属的总量均低于我国污泥农用标准中的酸性限值,符合B级污泥泥质要求.处理后,污泥中Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As主要以硫化物有机结合态和残渣态（稳定态）存在,不稳定态在不同程度上向稳定态发生了转变,Cu、Hg的增幅最大,达21.1%.S2中重金属的生物可利用性较S1都有显著的降低,平均降幅达73.1%,S2中重金属的生物可利用性顺序为：Zn〉Pb〉Cu〉Cd〉As〉Hg.污泥经过湿法氧化聚沉工艺处理后,污泥中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As得到了明显的稳定化,为污泥后续资源化、安全化提供了科学依据.     

Analysis of psychoactive substances and metabolites in sludges,soils, sediments and biota: a review

The use of psychoactive substances, including illegal drugs, drugs of abuse and psychiatric pharmaceuticals, is a major health and environmental issue. In particular, drugs are found in urban sewage and water ecosystems. The analysis of drugs in wastewater is challenging because drugs occur at trace levels in complex organo-mineral media, calling for advanced analytical methods. Here we review recent methods developped to analyze drugs in sludge, sediments, soils and biota. Extraction methods include solid–liquid extraction, sonication, microwave, and quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe extraction (QuEChERS). We compare and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each analytical step for various sample types.

     

Eco-friendly approach for leaching out heavy metals from sewage sludge

Sewage sludge contains rich organic matter and nutrients essential for the growth of plants but the presence of toxic heavy metals restricts its land application. To overcome this, the study aims an eco-friendly approach for leaching out heavy metals. Sewage sludge from sewage treatment plant, Chennai, India was characterised. The analysis of total heavy metal concentration was done by digesting in nitric acid and different forms were extracted by community bureau of reference sequential method. Heavy metals: As, Cd, Cr, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry Perkin Elmer Optima 5300 DV. The experimental set-up for heavy metal leaching was held for five consecutive days at different concentrations of humic acid (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) at varied pH (5–9). Results revealed that at the end of fifth day at pH 8, 1% humic acid is capable of leaching out 75.5% cadmium, 66.0% nickel, 52.0% lead, 51.2% zinc, 31.2% copper and 8.5% cadmium from sewage sludge. Statistically positive correlation (0.7088) existed between the percentage of heavy metals leached out and the sum of soluble and reducible fractions. Thus, from ecological point of view, humic acid can be used to leach out heavy metals from sewage sludge serving the need in restoration of soil fertility upon land application.     

Physiological and metabolic effect of mercury accumulation in higher plants system

Heavy metals, lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are non-essential elements. Plants absorb these metals from soil, water and air through their roots and leaves. Heavy metals are the major environmental pollutants, which spread to soil through the use of pesticides, herbicides and micronutrient fertilizers, industrial effluents, decay of junk materials and sewage sludge, vehicular emissions, re-suspended road dust, diesel generator sets and coal-based thermal power plants. Sewage and sludge have contributed to heavy metal contamination of peri-urban lands and vegetable crops. The present review focuses on the effects of various concentrations of Hg on growth of young and mature seedlings as well as on nitrate reductase activity and nitrate assimilation in intact and excised seedling, especially the mechanism underlying nitrate reductase regulation by this heavy metal. Evidence indicates that mercury exerts significant adverse effects on the physiological activity of plants.