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Elements in Wastewater for Agricultural Use
Santarsiero1, Veschetti, Ottaviani
1Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy
Summary
Wastewater irrigation requires monitoring elemental concentrations. Rainwater
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Water Quality Analysis
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Increasing use of wastewater for agricultural irrigation necessitates understanding its elemental composition.
- Temporal variations in elemental concentrations in treated and untreated sewage are critical for agricultural applications.
- Assessing the impact of environmental factors, like rainwater, on wastewater quality is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine concentrations of 13 elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni, Pb, Zn) in treated and untreated sewage.
- To estimate the sodium adsorption ratio index using Ca, Mg, and Na concentrations.
- To investigate the influence of rainwater on elemental concentrations and wastewater treatment plant efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of treated and untreated sewage samples using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Perkin-Elmer Model 460 and 5000).
- Determination of total residue and settleable solids volume.
- Collection of rainwater data alongside elemental and physical parameter measurements.
- Application of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to understand interrelationships among 13 parameters.
Main Results:
- Rainwater's effect on elemental concentrations is complex, not merely dilution.
- Each element exhibited unique temporal behavior, indicating distinct evolutionary patterns.
- No significant correlation was found between elemental concentrations in treated and untreated sewage samples.
- Sodium adsorption ratio index was estimated using specific elemental concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Wastewater elemental composition is influenced by factors beyond simple dilution by rainwater.
- Understanding the individual behavior of elements is crucial for safe agricultural reuse.
- Treated and untreated sewage exhibit independent elemental profiles, impacting treatment and application strategies.
- The study provides insights into wastewater quality management for sustainable agriculture.