SREL Reprint #2758

Comparative study of elemental transport and distribution in soils amended with fly ash and sewage sludge ash

S. Paramasivam1, K. S. Sajwan1, A. K. Alva2, D. C. Adriano3, T. Punshon3, D. van Clief4, and K. H. Hostler4

1Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
2USDA-ARS Pacific West Area, Vegetable and Forage Crops Research Unit, 24106 N Bunn Rd.,
Prosser, WA 99350, USA
3Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
4Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA

Abstract: Disposal of various coal combustion and municipal by-products is a serious and challenging problem due to strict environmental regulations. This is due to the threat of accumulation of certain heavy metals in soils, plants and groundwater when these products are used as soil amendments or disposed of in landfills. This chapter describes a study that was undertaken on a coarse and medium textured soils amended with single rate of (74.1 Mg ha-1) fly ash (FA), sewage sludge (SS) and sewage sludge ash (SSA) to compare the transport and leaching potential of various elements and their distribution within 30-cm soil columns. Transport and leaching potential of macro nutrient elements were highest in SSA amended soils followed by SS and FA. Leaching potential of Cr, Cd and Ni were the lowest in SSA followed by SS and FA. In addition, the total quantity of metals in the leachate (total of 2640 mL) were generally greater when the amendments were applied to coarse textured soil compared to medium textured soil with the exception of Pb. The results also suggest that binding sites created by the interaction between soil and amendments may modify metal adsorption-desorption and solubility, with a consequential effect on leaching and downward transport of various elements.

SREL Reprint #2758

Paramasivam, S., K. S. Sajwan, A. K. Alva, D. C. Adriano, T. Punshon, D. van Clief, and K. H. Hostler. 2003. Comparative study of elemental transport and distribution in soils amended with fly ash and sewage sludge ash. pp. 189-202 In: K. S. Sajwan, A. K. Alva and R. F. Keefer (Eds.). Chemistry of Trace Elements in Fly Ash. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).