Structural characterization and evaluation of municipal wastewater sludge (biosolids) from two rural wastewater treatment plants in East Texas, USA

Kefa K Onchoke; Christopher M Franclemont; Paul Wayne Weatherford

doi:10.1016/j.saa.2018.06.096

Structural characterization and evaluation of municipal wastewater sludge (biosolids) from two rural wastewater treatment plants in East Texas, USA

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2018 Nov 5:204:514-524. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2018.06.096. Epub 2018 Jun 26.

Authors

Kefa K Onchoke¹, Christopher M Franclemont², Paul Wayne Weatherford³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Stephen F. Austin State University, Box 13006, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-13006, USA. Electronic address: Onchokekk@sfasu.edu.
² Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Stephen F. Austin State University, Box 13006, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-13006, USA.
³ Department of Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Soil, Plant and Water Analysis Lab, P.O. Box 13025, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3025, USA.

PMID: 29975913
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2018.06.096

Abstract

Wastewater sludge (or) biosolids collected from two rural wastewater treatment plants (NWWTP, LWWTP) in East Texas, USA were characterized and evaluated via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion chromatography. The proximate organic and inorganic compositions and spectroscopic characteristics of sewage sludge were determined. The results show that the concentrations of toxic metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Hg, and Zn meet USEPA guideline recommendations for land applications. Notably, metals concentrations in biosolids from NWWTP (Mn (700 ± 83) > Zn (422.5 ± 35.4 ppm) > Ba (319.5 ± 87 ppm) > Cu (240 ± 27 ppm) > B (107 ± 14 ppm) > V (24 ± 3.3 ppm) > Cr (20 ± 3.3 ppm) > Ni (16.7 ± 2.0 ppm) > Pb (16.8 ± 1.1 ppm) > As (11.99 ± 1.27 ppm) > Co (7.6 ± 0.7 ppm) > Mo (6.4 ± 1.4 ppm) > Hg (0.55 ± 0.24 ppm) > Cd (0.130 ± 0.109 ppm)) and LWWTP follow similar trends. Macro-elements concentrations in LWWTP follow the trend P (19,648 ± 169) > Fe (22,688 ± 2110) > Ca (9372 ± 163) > S (9010 ± 1009) > Al (12,538 ± 2116) > K (3514 ± 550) > Mg (33,370 ± 502) > Na (1511 ± 472). The Br^-, NO₃^-, NO₂^-, F^-, Cl^-, and SO₄^2- concentrations meet USEPA guidelines. Whereas biosolid particle sizes were in the range ~20 μm to 500 μm mineralogical results show quartz and vermiculite to be major constituents with abundancies 12.94%, and 10.87% w/wt, respectively.

Keywords: Hydride-generator-ICP-OES; Ion chromatography; SEM; Sludge/biosolids; XRD.

MeSH terms

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / methods*
Limit of Detection
Linear Models
Metals, Heavy / analysis
Metals, Heavy / chemistry
Reproducibility of Results
Sewage / analysis*
Sewage / chemistry*
Texas
Water Purification*

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Sewage