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Influence of the composition and removal characteristics of organic matter on heavy metal distribution in compost leachates

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Abstract

Compost leachates were collected to investigate the influence of the composition and removal of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), humic-like substances (HSs), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) on heavy metal distribution during the leachate treatment process. The results showed that acetic and propionic acids accounted for 81.3 to 93.84 % of VFAs, and that these acids were removed by the anaerobic-aerobic process. Humic- and fulvic-like substances were detected by excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis, and their content significantly decreased after the anaerobic and membrane treatments. DON in compost leachates ranged from 26.53 mg L-1 to 919.46 mg L-1, comprised of dissolved free amino acids and the protein-like matter bound to humic- and fulvic-like substances, and was removed by the aerobic process. Correlation analysis showed that Mn, Ni, and Pb were bound to VFAs and protein-, fulvic-, and humic-like substances in the leachates. Co was primarily bound to fulvic- and humic-like matter and inorganic sulfurs, whereas Cu, Zn, and Cd interacted with inorganic sulfur.

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Abbreviations

(MSWs):

Municipal solid wastes

(DOM):

Dissolved organic matter

(HSs):

Humic-like substances

(VFAs):

Volatile fatty acids

(DON):

Dissolved organic nitrogen

(HA):

Humic acid

(FA):

Fulvic acid

(EEM):

Excitation–emission matrix

(PARAFAC):

Parallel factor

(EDTA):

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

(DCAAs):

Dissolved combined amino acids

(DFAAs):

Dissolved free amino acids

(UASB):

Upflow anaerobic sludge bed

(BOD5):

Biochemical oxygen demand for five days

(CODcr):

Chemical oxygen demand determined by potassium dichromate method

(TN):

Total nitrogen

(DOC):

Dissolved organic carbon

(ORP):

Oxidation–reduction potential

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos.51078340 and 51325804), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (no.2012 M520349), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Research Institutes (2012GQ-14).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Xiao-Song He, Bei-Dou Xi, Dan Li, Dong-Yu Cui, Hong-Wei Pan & Yan Ma

  2. Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biogas Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Xu-Jing Guo

  3. College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Yan Ma

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  1. Xiao-Song He
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  2. Bei-Dou Xi
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  6. Hong-Wei Pan
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  7. Yan Ma
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Correspondence to Bei-Dou Xi.

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Responsible editor: Céline Guéguen

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He, XS., Xi, BD., Li, D. et al. Influence of the composition and removal characteristics of organic matter on heavy metal distribution in compost leachates. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 7522–7529 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2674-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2674-5

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