The mechanisms and relative importance of abiotic and biological processes for VOC loss from sludge amended soils

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:85937

Wilson, S C; Jones, K C ^[1]

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1. Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom). Inst. of Environmental and Biological Sciences

The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sewage sludge has been a cause of increasing concern due to the possible risk to human health and the environment when sludge is applied to agricultural soils. Sludge application to agricultural land in the UK is expected to increase as a result of restrictions on alternative disposal routes and also increasingly stringent wastewater treatment requirements. Few studies have examined the fate and behavior of VOCs in sewage sludge amended soils and those reported have used spiked sludge rather than investigating the behavior of VOCs resident in the sludge itself. This study was designed to evaluate the behavior of aromatic VOCs (namely toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene) in unspiked sewage sludge amended soils and assess the relative importance and mechanisms of abiotic and biological loss processes. This was undertaken by adding sewage sludge to sterilized and unsterilized soil in closed and open systems. Results indicated that abiotic loss processes, primarily volatilization, were most important for the removal of VOCs. Initial rate of VOC loss was similar in all systems. After 65 days a residual VOC soil concentration remained which was apparently dependent on the conditions within the system.

• OSTI ID: 85937
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
GROUND DISPOSAL
REMOVAL
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
TOLUENE
XYLENES