Effect of cobalt sorption on metal fractionation in anaerobic granular sludge

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 1256 - 1270
• Main Authors: Osuna, M.B, Hullebusch, E.D. van, Zandvoort, M.H, Iza, J, Lens, P.N.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society 01.07.2004; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Adsorption; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; anaerobic conditions; Applied sciences; Bacteria, Anaerobic - physiology; binding; bioavailability; Biological and medical sciences; calcium; Carbonates; Cations; Chelating Agents - chemistry; chemical speciation; Cobalt; Cobalt - chemistry; Cobalt - metabolism; copper; diffusional properties; digested-sludge; distillery effluents; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Edetic Acid - chemistry; EDTA (chelating agent); Effects; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; exchangeable cations; extraction; Fractionation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutaraldehyde; granules; h-1-nmr characterization; Heat treatment; heavy-metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; iron; magnesium; metal ions; metals; Metals, Heavy - chemistry; methanogens; nickel; Organic matter; phosphorus; physicochemical properties; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; precipitation; pulp and paper mill effluents; sediments; sequential extraction; Sewage - chemistry; Sewage - microbiology; sewage sludge; Sludge; Soil microorganisms; Sorption; Speciation; sulfide; sulfides; Trace elements; Trace Elements - chemistry; trace-metals; upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor; zinc; Competition; Fractionation; Organic matter; Heat treatment; Pollutant behavior; Sequential extraction; Metal; EDTA; Cobalt; Sorption; Trace element; Sulfides; Adsorption; Anaerobe; pH; Antagonist; Carbonates; Physicochemical properties; Speciation
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq2004.1256

A sequential extraction procedure was applied to two anaerobic methanogenic sludges (Eerbeek and Nedalco) to examine the speciation of micro- and macronutrients in the sludges after cobalt sorption by exposing the sludge to a 1 mM Co solution for 4 d at pH 7 and 30ʻC. The effect of different physicochemical conditions on cobalt sorption was studied as well: effect of pH (6-8), effect of competition by a second trace element (Ni or Fe), modification of the granular matrix by glutaraldehyde or heat treatment, and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) addition. Sorbed Co was found to distribute between the carbonates, organic matter + sulfides, and residual fractions. Cobalt adsorption resulted in an antagonistic interaction with other metals present in the granular matrix, evidenced by the solubilization of other trace elements (e.g., Ni, Cu, and Zn) as well as macronutrients (especially Ca and Fe). Modification of the sludge matrix by glutaraldehyde or heat treatment, or exposure to EDTA, led to serious modifications of the Co sorption capacity and strong interactions with multivalent cations (i.e., Ca2+ and Fe2+).