Control of Pollution in Waters Containing Heavy Metals

摘要

An integrated set of experiments were carried out on the fate of chromium and copper in biological waste water treatment processes, aqueous environments, and soil systems. A rotating biological contactor and activated sludge were used as the waste water treatment processes; Stillwater, Oklahoma area lake and river water and sediments, as the aqueous environments; and sandy and red silty clay soils, as the soil systems. While it was determined that chromium was removed by the lake and river sediments but not generally removed by biological treatment processes or by algae, it was found that copper was removed by all systems. Removal efficiencies of the metals were highly dependent upon operating and environmental conditions. Sediments and soils had strong affinities for copper, and uptake could be correlated with soil type. Soluble copper reduction in aquatic systems occurred by precipitation. In general, the results indicated that copper is probably of less environmental concern than chromium since it is so readily removed by all systems studied.