Influence of clinoptilolite rock on chemical speciation of selected heavy metals in sewage sludge

The chemical speciation of Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr and Ni in Torun municipal sewage sludge is investigated with addition of a natural sorbent (clinoptilolite rock). The total contents of the heavy metals in the sludge are substantially lower than the corresponding limits established by European or Polish legislation excepting nickel only. But the metals concentrations excepting lead exceed significantly the natural background (average contents in soils and in the Earth's crust) in dozens. Application of the sequential chemical extraction indicated that the metals in the sewage sludge are bound mainly (over 50%) in the residual fraction. The metals form the following order by parts of the mobile form: Ni> Cd> Cr> Cu> Pb. Addition of the clinoptilolite to the sludge leads to the metals contents fall in all four fractions of the sequential procedure. Concentrations of mobile forms of cadmium, chromium, copper and nickel decrease by 87, 64, 35 and 24%, respectively, as a result of addition of 9.09% of the clinoptilolite. The total decreases of the metals amount after 9.09% clinoptilolite addition to the sludge are around 11, 15, 25, 41 and 51% for copper, nickel, chromium, cadmium and lead, respectively.