Removal of potentially toxic metals from sewage sludge using EDTA

Authors

  • Anela KAURIN Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo, Slovenija
  • Juan Francisco MORALES ARTEAGA Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo, Slovenija
  • Domen LEŠTAN Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo ENVIT, okoljske tehnologije in inženiring, Slovenija

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2022.118.4.2705

Keywords:

EDTA, toxic metals, remediation, sewage sludge, wastewater treatment plants, aerobic biological treatment, anaerobic biological treatmen

Abstract

Sewage sludge has the potential to be used as a fertilizer in agriculture because of its high nutritional value, but it is often contaminated with toxic metals (TM). This study investigated whether ReSoil® technology, based on the use of EDTA (50, 70, and 100 mmol l-1), efficiently removes TM from sewage sludge collected after aerobic (blato1) and anaerobic (blato2) treatment. The highest removal efficiency of Pb was achieved in blato1 (up to 60 %) and of Zn and Cu in blato2 (up to 55 and 29 %, respectively). The content of nutrients did not change significantly after remediation, only available phosphorus decreased up to 1.7-times in blato2, but its content remained high (489-510 mg 100-1 g-1). After remediation, the concentration of all metals, except Zn, in the leachates was below the limit for non-hazardous substances. To demonstrate the possibility of recycling process solutions and EDTA, blato2 was washed in 5 consecutive batches with 50 mmol l-1 washing solution, removing on average 28 % Pb, 48 % Zn, 35 % Cu, 30 % Mn, and 10 % Fe. ReSoil® technology removes metals from sludge and preserves its nutritional value. However, the efficiency of the technology depends on the treatment process used in the wastewater treatment plant.

Author Biographies

  • Anela KAURIN, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo, Slovenija
    Oddelek za agronomijo
  • Juan Francisco MORALES ARTEAGA, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo, Slovenija
    Oddelek za agronomijo
  • Domen LEŠTAN, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo ENVIT, okoljske tehnologije in inženiring, Slovenija
    Oddelek za agronomijo

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Published

30. 12. 2022

Issue

Section

Original Scientific Article

How to Cite

KAURIN, A., MORALES ARTEAGA, J. F., & LEŠTAN, D. (2022). Removal of potentially toxic metals from sewage sludge using EDTA. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 118(4), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2022.118.4.2705