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TECHNICAL REPORTS

Waste Management

Solid Phosphorus Phase in Aluminum- and Iron-Treated Biosolids

^a Dep. of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76-100, Israel
^b Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Univ. of Miami, Miami, FL 33149

^* Corresponding author (shenker{at}agri.huji.ac.il)

Received for publication April 17, 2006. Stabilization of phosphorus (P) in sewage sludge (biosolids) to reduce water-soluble P concentrations is essential for minimizing P loss from amended soils and maximizing the capacity of the soil to safely serve as an outlet for this waste material. The chemical form at which P is retained in biosolids stabilized by Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O (alum) or FeSO₄·7H₂O (FeSul) was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray elemental spectrometry (EDXS) and by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both treatments resulted in the formation of a Ca-P phase, probably brushite. Phosphorus was further retained in the alum-treated biosolids by precipitation of an Al-P phase with an Al/P molar ratio of about 1:1, while in the FeSul-treated biosolids, P was retained by both precipitation with Fe/P molar ratios of 1:1 or 1.5:1, and by adsorption onto newly formed Fe hydroxides exhibiting an Fe/P molar ratio of up to 11:1. All of these mechanisms efficiently reduced P solubility and are crucial in biosolids environmentally safe agronomic beneficial use for this waste product; however, each P phase formed may react differently in the amended soil, depending on soil properties. Thus, the proper P stabilization method would depend on the target soil.

Abbreviations: alum, Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O • FeSul, FeSO₄·7H₂O • EDXS, energy-dispersive X-ray elemental spectrometry • FBS, fresh dewatered anaerobically digested biosolids • SEM, scanning electron microscopy • WSP, water-soluble P • XRD, X-ray diffraction