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The mobility and adsorption of sewage sludge-derived copper and zinc in forest soil Evans, Rhian Emma
Abstract
Forest land application of sewage sludge results in the recycling of nutrients essential for plant growth, and also provides organic matter important for soil structure. However, land disposal of sewage sludge is not an ideal solution. A major environmental concern associated with sewage sludge application to land, is the fate of sludge-derived heavy metals such as copper and zinc. Consequently, the mobility and retention mechanisms of sludge—derived metals in forest soils are enormously important to questions of plant uptake and groundwater contamination. The purpose of this study was to examine the mobility and adsorption of sludge-derived copper and zinc in a forest soil. To determine the mobility of the metals a column study was conducted (Phase I) with one main objective: to determine the effect of time and rate of sludge application on the movment and accumulation of copper and zinc in the underlying forest soil. The results of this study indicated significant differences in metal accumulation between application rates in the upper organic horizon (0—5 cm) of the soil. It also became evident that time had a significant effect in the redistribution of metals. Furthermore, and of considerable environmental significance, was the fact that more than 75 % of both copper and zinc remained in the sludge after 4 months. The main objective of Phase II of the research, the Adsorption Study, was to determine the adsorption behaviour of copper and zinc by FH and Bf horizons, and by woody material. The adsorption data was successfully fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. This model provided parameters which reflected both the adsorption capacity and bonding energy of the metal. Results showed that the FH material had a greater bonding energy constant and a higher adsorption capacity for both the metals, than did either of the other two materials. This is significant because the majority of the sludge, when applied to a forest soil, is primarily in contact with the FH horizon. As expected, copper had both a greater bonding energy constant and adsorption maximum than zinc for all three materials. The mobility of sludge-derived copper and zinc in a forest soil is highly dependent upon the adsorption characteristics of the metal with the adsorbate material. Therefore based on the results of this research, it is possible to conclude that in a forest soil with a considerable FH horizon, copper, and to a lesser extent zinc, will be readily adsorbed and retained by this highly organic material.
Item Metadata
Title |
The mobility and adsorption of sewage sludge-derived copper and zinc in forest soil
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1994
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Description |
Forest land application of sewage sludge results in the
recycling of nutrients essential for plant growth, and also
provides organic matter important for soil structure. However,
land disposal of sewage sludge is not an ideal solution. A
major environmental concern associated with sewage sludge
application to land, is the fate of sludge-derived heavy metals
such as copper and zinc. Consequently, the mobility and
retention mechanisms of sludge—derived metals in forest soils
are enormously important to questions of plant uptake and
groundwater contamination.
The purpose of this study was to examine the mobility and
adsorption of sludge-derived copper and zinc in a forest soil.
To determine the mobility of the metals a column study was
conducted (Phase I) with one main objective:
to determine the effect of time and rate of sludge
application on the movment and accumulation of copper and
zinc in the underlying forest soil.
The results of this study indicated significant differences
in metal accumulation between application rates in the upper
organic horizon (0—5 cm) of the soil. It also became evident
that time had a significant effect in the redistribution of
metals. Furthermore, and of considerable environmental
significance, was the fact that more than 75 % of both copper and zinc remained in the sludge after 4 months.
The main objective of Phase II of the research, the
Adsorption Study, was to determine the adsorption behaviour of
copper and zinc by FH and Bf horizons, and by woody material.
The adsorption data was successfully fitted to the Langmuir
isotherm. This model provided parameters which reflected both
the adsorption capacity and bonding energy of the metal.
Results showed that the FH material had a greater bonding energy
constant and a higher adsorption capacity for both the metals,
than did either of the other two materials. This is significant
because the majority of the sludge, when applied to a forest
soil, is primarily in contact with the FH horizon. As expected,
copper had both a greater bonding energy constant and adsorption
maximum than zinc for all three materials.
The mobility of sludge-derived copper and zinc in a forest
soil is highly dependent upon the adsorption characteristics of
the metal with the adsorbate material. Therefore based on the
results of this research, it is possible to conclude that in a
forest soil with a considerable FH horizon, copper, and to a
lesser extent zinc, will be readily adsorbed and retained by
this highly organic material.
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Extent |
3623711 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-02-24
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0094715
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1994-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.