THE INFLUENCE OF REDOX CHEMISTRY AND pH ON CHEMICALLY ACTIVE FORMS OF ARSENIC IN SEWAGE SLUDGE-AMENDED SOIL

摘要

Chemical fractionation procedures were used to quantify the effect of the sediment redox and pH conditions on the adsorption and solubility of arsenic (As) in municipal sewage sludge and sewage sludge-amenede soil. Sludge and sludge-amended soil were incubated in microcosms in which Eh- pH conditions were controlled. Samples were sequentially extracted to determine As in various chemical forms (water soluble, exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides, bound to insoluble organics and sufides) and the chemically inactive fraction (mineral residues). 1n both sewage sludge and s1udge-amended soi1, As chemistry was governed by large molecular humic matter and sulfides and Fe and Mn-oxides. Solubility of As remained low and constant under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions in sludge-amended soil. After dissolution of Fe and Mn-oxides, As~5+ was released into sludge solution, reduced to As~3+ and likely precipitated as sulfide. Therefore, an organic amendment rich in sulfur compounds, such as sewage sludge, would drastically reduce the potential risks derived from As pollution under highly anoxic conditions by precipitation of this toxic metalloid as insoluble and immobile sulfides.