HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Peterson, J. R. Articles by Gschwind, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Peterson, J. R. Articles by Gschwind, J. Agricola Articles by Peterson, J. R. Articles by Gschwind, J.

Leachate Quality from Acidic Mine Spoil Fertilized with Liquid Digested Sewage Sludge¹

ABSTRACT

The leachate quality from an acidic mine spoil was upgraded by the addition of liquid digested sludge. Mixing liquid sludge with acidic spoil material (pH 2.5) at a w/w ratio of 1:37 (61 metric tons/ha, dry basis), reduced leachate constituents as follows: total acidity, 17%; Al, 99%; Fe, 80%; and soluble salts, 41% for this 110-day study. During this period leachate showed increases in: NH₃-N, 1689%; SO₄, 49%; Zn, 1941%; and Mg, 827%. The pH of this leachate increased immediately to 4.6 (check column remained near 2.5) and continued with a gradual neutralization. The mixing of sludge with this spoil material at a w/w ratio of 1:18 (122 metric tons/ha, dry basis) was the second most efficient for water amelioration. This leachate had an immediate pH increase of 4.5 and an eventual increase to pH 8, a 99% reduction in Al, an increase in NH₃-N by 3131%, and total P by 1069% over the check column leachate. A third ratio of sludge to acidic soil of 1:37 mixed in the top quarter of the column showed the least leachate amelioration, but after 30 days of leaching, nitrification began in this column, indicating aerobiosis and a pH of > 5.4 in a part of the soil column. The columns were leached 1 hour/day with 1.36 cm of aerated deionized water so that unsaturated flow occurred during a part of each day.

Key Words: heavy metals • soluble aluminum • mine spoil reclamation • water amelioration • total acidity • acidic leaching • human waste products

¹ Contribution of the Research and Development Dep., Metropolitan Sanitary Dist. of Greater Chicago. Presented before Div. A-5, American Society of Agronomy, Aug. 17, 1971, New York, N.Y.

² Soil Scientist and Sanitary Chemist I, Metropolitan Sanitary Dist. of Greater Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

Received for publication January 6, 1972.