<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this study, we have determined the main important physical and chemical properties of municipal sewage sludge and compared them to the requirements of the Finnish Fertilizer Product Act and Fertilizer Product Decree in order to assess the potential utilization of this by-product as a fertilizer. Except for Hg (1.4 mg/kg d.m.), the total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr and As in our sewage sludge were lower that the Finnish maximum permissible heavy metal concentrations for sewage sludge used as a fertilizer products. However, the sewage sludge may be utilized as a soil improver, a growing media or as a fertilizer product in landfill sites (e.g. surface structures) or in other closed industrial areas, because the above mentioned Finnish limit values are not applied at these sites. If the sewage sludge is to be utilized in these kinds of areas, an environmental permit may be needed. According to BCR-extraction, the lowest release potential (solubility) from the sample matrix was observed for sulphur (58.4 %) and the highest for Cd (100 %).</p></abstract>

In this study, we have determined the main important physical and chemical properties of municipal sewage sludge and compared them to the requirements of the Finnish Fertilizer Product Act and Fertilizer Product Decree in order to assess the potential utilization of this by-product as a fertilizer. Except for Hg (1.4 mg/kg d.m.), the total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr and As in our sewage sludge were lower that the Finnish maximum permissible heavy metal concentrations for sewage sludge used as a fertilizer products. However, the sewage sludge may be utilized as a soil improver, a growing media or as a fertilizer product in landfill sites (e.g. surface structures) or in other closed industrial areas, because the above mentioned Finnish limit values are not applied at these sites. If the sewage sludge is to be utilized in these kinds of areas, an environmental permit may be needed. According to BCR-extraction, the lowest release potential (solubility) from the sample matrix was observed for sulphur (58.4 %) and the highest for Cd (100 %).

Characterisation of Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Soil Improver and a Fertilizer Product

Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit, Faculty of Technology

Clean Technology Research Group, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Technology

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In this study, we have determined the main important physical and chemical properties of municipal sewage sludge and compared them to the requirements of the...

Characterisation of Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Soil Improver and a Fertilizer Product

Published Online: Oct 11, 2019

Page range: 547 - 557

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eces-2019-0040

Keywords
BCR extraction, fertilizer, sewage sludge, wastewater treatment, waste

© 2019 Risto Pöykiö et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Characterisation of Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Soil Improver and a Fertilizer Product

Published Online: Oct 11, 2019

Page range: 547 - 557

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eces-2019-0040

KeywordsBCR extraction, fertilizer, sewage sludge, wastewater treatment, waste

© 2019 Risto Pöykiö et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
BCR extraction, fertilizer, sewage sludge, wastewater treatment, waste