Speciation Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sludge of Huainan, China

You, Mu; Hu, Yunhu; Yan, Yule; Jie, Yang

doi:10.3390/molecules26216711

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The average concentrations of these elements ranked in the following order: Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd > Hg. According to the literature data, most often, the concentrations of particular heavy metals in sewage sludge can be ordered as follows: Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd [ 18 ]; Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd > Hg [ 6 ], or Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd [ 2 ], etc. Therefore, we can proclaim that the composition of the analyzed sewage sludge is typical for municipal WWTPs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Municipal sewage sludge is a by-product of multi-stage wastewater treatment that contains substances such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (nutrients), as well as organic matter (OM), which are required in large amounts for the proper growth of plants [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Precisely for these reasons, sewage sludge is used as a soil amendment or fertilizer [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This means that metals can accumulate in soil, then enter the food chain through crops, and finally concentrate in the environment. However, the total content of heavy metals is not a reliable indicator of the negative effects of their impact on living organisms and the environment [ 2 , 9 ]. The best way to obtain more specific information about the bioavailability, occurrence, and potential mobility of these elements is to carry out chemical sequential extraction [ 5 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparison of Conventional and Ultrasound-Assisted BCR Sequential Extraction Methods for the Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge of Different Characteristics

2022

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The purpose of this study was to determine the heavy metal (HM: Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) content in particular chemical fractions (forms) of sewage sludge with different characteristics (primary and dewatered sludge) using conventional (CSE) and ultrasound-assisted (USE) BCR sequential extraction methods (Community Bureau of Reference, now the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme). The concentrations of HMs were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES). Only mercury was assayed with cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Ultrasound treatment was conducted in the ultrasonic bath (Sonic 5, Polsonic). The optimal sonication time (30 min) was determined using ERM-CC144 (Joint Research Center; JCR) certified reference material. The conducted experiment revealed that the use of ultrasound waves shortened the extraction time to 4 h and 30 min (Stages I to III). The recoveries (RM) of heavy metals ranged from 62.8% to 130.2% (CSE) and from 79.8% to 135.7% (USE) for primary sludge, and from 87.2% to 113.2% (CSE) and from 87.8% to 112.0% (USE) for dewatered sludge. The only exception was Hg in dewatered sludge. The conducted research revealed minor differences in the concentrations and fractionation patterns for Cd, Ni, and Zn extracted from sludge samples by the tested methods. However, it was confirmed that the above findings do not significantly affect the results of a potential ecological risk assessment (with minor exceptions for Cd and Zn in the primary sludge), which is extremely essential for the natural use of sludge, and especially dewatered sludge (the final sludge). The shorter extraction time and lower energy consumption prove that ultrasound-assisted extraction is a fast and simple method for HM fractionation, and that it provides an alternative to the conventional procedure. Therefore, it can be considered a “green method” for the assessment of the bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals in solid samples.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparison of Conventional and Ultrasound-Assisted BCR Sequential Extraction Methods for the Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge of Different Characteristics

2022

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“…The potential ecological risk index, as proposed by Hakanson, 24 is widely used to evaluate the potential risk of trace metals on the ecosystem, ecological risk assessment according to its characteristics and environmental behaviors in soil or sediment. 25 It combines the concentration and toxicity levels of trace elements as well as the sensitivity of the ecological environment to these trace elements. This assessment was estimated using the following equations: …”

Section: Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Speciation, Leaching Behavior, and Environmental Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in the Bottom Ash from Biomass Power Plant

You,

Xu,

et al. 2024

ACS Omega

Self Cite

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Biomass combustion for power generation stands as a pivotal method in energy utilization, offering a promising approach for renewable energy utilization. However, the substantial volume of slag produced by biomass burning plants poses environmental challenges, impeding sustainable energy practices. This article systematically studies the characteristics of ash generated from typical biomass direct combustion power plant ash and analyzes the chemical composition, trace element content characteristics, leaching characteristics, and chemical forms of biomass bottom ash. Furthermore, it assesses the environmental ecology and bioavailability of trace elements in bottom ash using the ecological risk assessment method and RAC method. The results demonstrate that the biomass bottom ash contains plant nutrients, such as K, Ca, Mg, and P, while the content of harmful trace elements is lower than the relevant Chinese standards. In dissolution experiments, the leaching rate of nearly all elements remains exceptionally low, primarily due to the distribution of trace elements within the lattice structure of stable minerals. Trace elements predominantly exist in the residual phase, Cu and Zn primarily found in organic compounds and sulfide bound states, while other elements mostly exist in the form of iron manganese oxide bound states. Ecological risk assessment indicates a significant risk level for Cd, contrasting with the slight risk associated with other elements. RAC results indicated no ecological risk of all of the trace elements. Consequently, the utilization of bottom ash in agricultural and forestry soils is deemed to be viable. These findings serve as a crucial foundation for biomass bottom ash resource utilization and underpin the sustainable utilization of biomass energy.

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“…Therefore, the heavy metals in sewage sludge have become an important limiting factor for the use of sewage sludge [ 21 ]. To safely use sewage sludge and prevent the adverse effects induced by heavy metals, studies generally have focused on the distribution of heavy metals’ contents and ecological and human health risk assessments [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. However, to be effective and safe, the disposal method for sewage sludge should be selected not only based on the contents of heavy metals and risk assessment but also by adding potential analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Assessment and Potential Analysis of the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge in Central Shanxi Province

Duan

Feng

2022

IJERPH

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The agricultural use of sewage sludge has become an economic disposal method used worldwide. However, heavy metals contained in sewage sludge have become the crucial limiting factors for this way of disposal. This study showed that regulatory limit values are not enough to determine whether sewage sludge is suitable for agricultural use; risk assessment and potential analysis should be applied. Correlation analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) should also be performed to identify heavy metals’ sources and show their influence on sewage sludge utilization. Samples were collected from 13 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in central Shanxi Province. Results indicated that the mean contents of heavy metals in sewage sludge were all less than the limit threshold of China. According to the monomial potential ecological risk coefficient (), the agricultural use of sewage sludge had low ecological risks for all heavy metals, except for Hg and Cd. Based on the potential ecological risk index (RI), only three stations had moderate risk, other nine stations all had higher potential risk. The mean potentials by all heavy metals were all beyond 10 years, which is the limit of the maximum application time specified by China. Combining all heavy metals, only one station’s potential was less than 10 years. Although the contents of heavy metals were all within the threshold values, large quantities of sewage sludge are not suitable for agricultural use. Coal-related industries, which were the main sources of Hg and Cd, greatly affected the agricultural use of sewage sludge.

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Speciation Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sludge of Huainan, China

Cited by 12 publications

References 29 publications

A Comparison of Conventional and Ultrasound-Assisted BCR Sequential Extraction Methods for the Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge of Different Characteristics

A Comparison of Conventional and Ultrasound-Assisted BCR Sequential Extraction Methods for the Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge of Different Characteristics

Chemical Speciation, Leaching Behavior, and Environmental Risk Assessment of Trace Elements in the Bottom Ash from Biomass Power Plant

Risk Assessment and Potential Analysis of the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge in Central Shanxi Province

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