Metal mobility at an old, heavily loaded sludge application site

This study was undertaken to determine the present distribution and mobility of sludge-applied metals at an old land application site. Trace metals concentrations were determined for soils (using 4 M HNO3 extracts), soil leachates (collected with passive wick lysimeters over a 2.5-year period), and plant tissue from a field site which received a heavy loading of wastewater sludge in 1978 and an adjacent control plot. Blue dye was used to indicate preferential percolate flowpaths in the sludge plot soil for sampling and comparison with bulk soil metals concentrations. After nearly 20 years, metals in the sludge plot leachate were found at significantly greater concentrations than in the control plot, exceeding drinking water standards for Cd, Ni, Zn, and B. Annual metals fluxes were only a fraction of the current soil metal contents, and do not account for the apparent substantial past metals losses determined in a related study. Elevated Cd, Cu, and Ni levels were found in grass growing on the sludge plot. Despite heavy loadings, fine soil texture (silty clay loam) and evidence of past and ongoing metals leaching, examination of the bulk subsoil indicated no statistically significant increases in metals concentrations (even in a calcareous subsoil horizon with elevated pH) when comparing pooled sludge plot soil profiles with controls. Sampling of dyed preferential flow paths in the sludge plot detected only slight increases in several metals. Preferential flow and metal complexation with soluble organics apparently allow leaching without easily detectable readsorption in the subsoil. The lack of significant metal deposition in subsoil may not be reliable evidence for immobility of sludge-applied metals.     

Effect of sludge-processing mode, soil texture and soil pH on metal mobility in undisturbed soil columns under accelerated loading

The effect of sludge processing (digested dewatered, pelletized, alkaline-stabilized, composted, and incinerated), soil type and initial soil pH on trace metal mobility was examined using undisturbed soil columns. Soils tested were Hudson silt loam (Glossaquic Hapludalf) and Arkport fine sandy loam (Lamellic Hapludalf), at initial pH levels of 5 and 7. Sludges were applied during four accelerated cropping cycles (215 tons/ha cumulative application for dewatered sludge; equivalent rates for other sludges), followed by four post-application cycles. Also examined (with no sludge applications) were Hudson soil columns from a field site that received a heavy loading of sludge in 1978. Romaine (Lactuca sativa) and oats (Avena sativa) were planted in alternate cycles, with oats later replaced by red clover (Trifolium pratense). Soil columns were watered with synthetic acid rainwater, and percolates were analyzed for trace metals (ICP spectroscopy), electrical conductivity and pH. Percolate metal concentrations varied with sludge and soil treatments. Composted sludge and ash had the lowest overall metal mobilities. Dewatered and pelletized sludge had notable leaching of Ni, Cd and Zn in Arkport soils, especially at low pH. Alkaline-stabilized sludge had the widest range of percolate metals (relatively insensitive to soils) including Cu, Ni, B and Mo. Old site column percolate concentrations showed good agreement with previous field data. Little leaching of P was observed in all cases. Cumulative percolate metal losses for all treatments were low relative to total applied metals. Leachate and soil pH were substantially depressed in dewatered and pelletized sludge soil columns and increased for alkaline-stabilized and ash treatments.