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Occurrence and fate of heavy metals in large wastewater treatment plants treating municipal and industrial wastewaters

Occurrence and fate of heavy metals in large wastewater treatment plants treating municipal and industrial wastewaters
Occurrence and fate of heavy metals in large wastewater treatment plants treating municipal and industrial wastewaters
This paper deals with a detailed study on the occurrence and fate of heavy metals (plus As, Fe and Al) in five Italian large wastewater treatment plants treating municipal and industrial wastewaters. The study showed that some of the compounds (As, Hg and Cd) were present at trace levels, while others were dispersed in a broad range of concentrations and were sometimes under the detection limit. The occurrence followed the order Hg = As < Hg < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Fe < Zn < Al. Metals were mainly present bound to particulate organic matter in municipal wastewaters while they were often present in soluble phase in industrial wastewaters. Some heavy metals, like Hg and Pb, showed clear correlations with Al and Fe, therefore the last could be used as control parameters. Metals were removed with good efficiency in the treatment works, with the order As < Cd = Cr = Zn < Pb < Hg < Ni = Al < Cu < Fe. Metals then concentrated in waste activated sludge and accumulated after sludge stabilisation because of volatile solids degradation, therefore some problems may arise with limit for agricultural application, in particular for Hg, Cd and Ni.

0273-1223
1329-1336
Bolzonella, D.
db1451fc-b83e-4610-a146-fcef13af08ac
Fatone, F.
9973dbd6-98ca-41a4-a6e9-70c8104f9442
Cecchi, F.
d85d999e-d70c-4eb6-bc85-e6277267da91
Carletti, G.
9bb3dcb5-ea6f-4529-a21f-91054f43e868
Bolzonella, D.
db1451fc-b83e-4610-a146-fcef13af08ac
Fatone, F.
9973dbd6-98ca-41a4-a6e9-70c8104f9442
Cecchi, F.
d85d999e-d70c-4eb6-bc85-e6277267da91
Carletti, G.
9bb3dcb5-ea6f-4529-a21f-91054f43e868

Bolzonella, D., Fatone, F., Cecchi, F. and Carletti, G. (2008) Occurrence and fate of heavy metals in large wastewater treatment plants treating municipal and industrial wastewaters. Water Science & Technology, 57 (9), 1329-1336. (doi:10.2166/wst.2008.230).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper deals with a detailed study on the occurrence and fate of heavy metals (plus As, Fe and Al) in five Italian large wastewater treatment plants treating municipal and industrial wastewaters. The study showed that some of the compounds (As, Hg and Cd) were present at trace levels, while others were dispersed in a broad range of concentrations and were sometimes under the detection limit. The occurrence followed the order Hg = As < Hg < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Fe < Zn < Al. Metals were mainly present bound to particulate organic matter in municipal wastewaters while they were often present in soluble phase in industrial wastewaters. Some heavy metals, like Hg and Pb, showed clear correlations with Al and Fe, therefore the last could be used as control parameters. Metals were removed with good efficiency in the treatment works, with the order As < Cd = Cr = Zn < Pb < Hg < Ni = Al < Cu < Fe. Metals then concentrated in waste activated sludge and accumulated after sludge stabilisation because of volatile solids degradation, therefore some problems may arise with limit for agricultural application, in particular for Hg, Cd and Ni.

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Published date: 2008

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 189063
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/189063
ISSN: 0273-1223
PURE UUID: b518a5ea-4bf0-4687-9ec1-94f08248e735

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Date deposited: 31 May 2011 12:59
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:34

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Contributors

Author: D. Bolzonella
Author: F. Fatone
Author: F. Cecchi
Author: G. Carletti

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