Digestion Procedure and Determination of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge—An Analytical Problem

Anna Turek, Kinga Wieczorek and Wojciech M. Wolf
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Anna Turek: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego Str., 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Kinga Wieczorek: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego Str., 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Wojciech M. Wolf: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, 116 Żeromskiego Str., 90-924 Lodz, Poland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Huge amounts of sewage sludge produced globally is a substantial environmental threat and require rational handling. Application in agriculture is an economical and relatively simple method of sludge management, however, it is associated with restrictions regarding metals content. According to EU regulations, the total amounts of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn have to be analyzed by the AAS technique requiring effective destruction of the organic matrix. Currently used methods of sewage sludge digestion may be biased when applied without optimization. The aim of the presented work was to evaluate the efficiency of the organic substances destruction in either raw or stabilized sludge. Three mineralization procedures were evaluated, namely: (A)—drying and microwave digestion; (B)—ignition and microwave digestion; (C)—drying and conventional digestion. For matrix destruction, a mixture of concentrated HNO 3 and HCl (3:1 v/v ) was used. Metals were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). No limits of metal concentration were overdrawn. Generally, the method (B) was the most effective. Results obtained for Cu, Cd, and Zn after digestion by method (A) and (B) were comparable. Methods (B) and (C) yield complete decomposition of the matrix. As result, the precision of measurement substantially increases.

Keywords: sewage sludge; municipal wastewater treatment plant; heavy metals; FAAS method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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