Heavy metals in untreated/treated urban effluent and sludge from a biological wastewater treatment plant

Background, Aim and Scope

The presence of heavy metals in wastewater is one of the main causes of water and soil pollution. The aim of the present study was to investigate the removal of Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, Mn, Cr and Zn in urban effluent by a biological wastewater treatment, as well as to quantify the levels of As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, V and Zn in dewatering sludge from the Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant to Ribeirão Preto (RP-BWTP), Brazil.

Materials and Methods

Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Pb in wastewater and those of Ni in sludge were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with graphite furnace atomization. Mercury concentrations in wastewater were measured by hydride generation atomic spectrophotometry, and Zn levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using acetylene flame. In sludge, the levels of As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Sn, Tl, V and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Results

The percentages of removal efficiency (RE) were the following: Hg 61.5%, Cd 60.0%, Zn 44.9%, Cu 44.2%, PB 39.7%, Cr 16,5% and Mn 10.4%. In turn, the mean concentrations (mg/kg) of metals in dewatering sludge followed this increasing order: Tl (<0.03), Hg (0.31), Be (0.43), As (1.14), Cd (1.34), V (59.2), Pb (132.1), Sn (166.1), Cr (195.0), Mn (208.1), Ni (239.4), Cu (391.7), Zn (864.4) and Fe (20537).

Discussion

The relationship between metal levels in untreated wastewater, as well as the removal efficiency are in agreement with previous data from various investigators, It is important to note that metal removal efficiency is not only affected by metal ion species and concentration, but also by other conditions such as operating parameters, physical, chemical, and biological factors.

Conclusions

Metal values recorded for treated wastewater and sludge were within the maximum permitted levels established by the Environmental Sanitation Company (CETESB), São Paulo, Brazil.

Recommendations

There is an urgent need for the authorities who are responsible for legislation on sludge uses in agriculture of establishing safety levels for As, Be, Hg, Sn, Tl and V.

Perspectives

According to the current metal levels, RP-BWTP sludge might be used for agriculture purposes. However, for an environmentally safe use of sewage sludge, further studies including systematic monitoring are recommended. Annual metal concentrations and predicted variations of those elements in the sludge should be monitored.

     

静电布袋复合式除尘器及其应用

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垂直流芦苇人工湿地对化粪池出水净化效果的研究

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人工湿地防治湖泊富营养化污染探讨

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人工湿地构筑根孔作用下土壤物质分布状况

嘉兴市石臼漾湿地应用人工构筑根孔技术,以玉米秸秆和油菜秸秆按比例混合埋植于土壤亚表层,作为湿地的基质/填料。在湿地运行一年半后,按照正交设计表,以埋植秸秆的种类(S)、填埋的土壤层次(L)、距离秸秆外环的远近(D)和秸秆周围土壤的表观颜色(C)作为实验因素,对秸秆周围养分物质浓度、土壤酶活性以及铁含量进行采样分析。实验结果显示:玉米秸秆和油菜秸秆腐烂较充分,分别形成较发达的粗根孔和细根孔;根孔周围土壤呈中度还原状态;粗根孔具有较强的优先流效应,其周围土壤具有较高的养分物质含量和较低的Fe2+/Fe3+比。粗根孔周围土壤具有较高的磷酸酶活性,而细根孔周围具有较高的β-葡糖苷酶活性和脲酶活性。综合比较,人工湿地构建初期,径级较大秸秆腐烂后形成的粗根孔发挥着更高的水分传导效率和更强的物质截留效应。     

散堆填料对海水脱硫吸收系统性能影响的实验研究

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几种腐殖填料生物滤池COD去除效能比较研究

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基于Monte-Carlo方法的静电除尘器除尘效率

针对经典除尘效率未考虑诸多随机因素影响的问题,提出了基于Monte-Carlo方法的效率分析模型,并通过实验数据验证其可靠性。通过该模型分析了粒径大小、电场气流速度、电晕电压、两极间距、粒子浓度等因素对收尘效率的影响规律,结果表明:基于Monte-Carlo方法的仿真结果精度更高,能有效预测静电除尘器的收尘效率,对于改进静电除尘器设计具有一定的理论意义和实用价值。     

二级絮凝-活性炭处理实验室无机废水的效果

采用两级絮凝-活性炭吸附法处理实验室无机废水,研究了该方法对重金属、硫化物、挥发酚、苯胺和浊度等的处理效果。结果表明,在絮凝温度、搅拌、曝气及污水pH值调节范围一定的情况下,硫酸亚铁(FeSO4.7H2O)与聚合氯化铝(PAC)结合的二级絮凝方法能有效地降低污水中的重金属和硫化物等污染物。二级絮凝处理中,使用聚合氯化铝(PAC)对一级絮凝中去除效果不好的Cr6+的去除效果显著,去除率达到90%以上;活性炭对苯胺和硫化物的去除效果最佳,去除率都在90%以上。同时,该方法还有效降低了废水的浊度和色度。因此,是一种快速、低成本和工艺简单的处理实验室废水的有效途径。     

城市能源利用与环境保护的综合管理初探

能源短缺和环境污染已成为中国推行全面协调可持续发展的重要制约因素,作为能源消耗的主体和环境污染的控制重点,在城市层面推动能源发展战略的转变和强化环境保护是发展的基本要求.鉴于能源与环境之间的高度关联性,在管理方面要求对能源发展和环境保护进行统筹考虑和综合管理,充分强调能源经济效率和环境制约因素在能源发展中的作用.通过制定合理的产业能效标准和排放绩效标准,为城市经济、能源和环境的可持续性发展提供科学性、系统性决策支持.