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Speciation of Organic Matter and Heavy Metals in Urban Wastewaters from an Emerging Country

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Abstract

Analytical scanning and transmission electron microscopy, sequential chemical extraction, and pyrolysis–gas chromatography on solvent-extractable organic matter are used to provide both direct and indirect speciation of heavy metals and organic matter in sewage-suspended solids and in biofilms taken from an urban sewer in an emerging country. Compared to developed countries where the domestic activities represent the main source of heavy metal pollution in wastewater, the combined sewer system of an emerging country also integrates significant contributions originating from the private drinking water supply system (Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni), industrial discharges (Cu, Mn), and road dust transported by street washing (Pb). The relative importance of those sources changes drastically over time as evidenced by the difference in metal levels recorded between weekday and weekend effluents. Nevertheless, sewer biofilms are found to provide a good averaging of contaminant loads and they can be used as environmental archives. The speciation study reveals the predominance of neoformed minerals such as sulfides and phosphates and highlights the strong biogeochemical dynamics that takes place within the sewer system. Electron microscope observations of heavy metal-bearing phases proved to be necessary to provide a consistent interpretation of chemical extraction results. The molecular characterization of the solvent-extractable organic matter from biofilms reveals the presence of classical fingerprints of domestic activity such as fecal sterols and detergents but also confirms a major contribution of petroleum by-products consistent with a traffic-related pollution.

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Acknowledgments

R. Al Khatib would like to thank the Lebanon National Council for Scientific Research for funding her doctoral studies. This work was supported in part by the France–Lebanon bilateral cooperation (CEDRE 06EF29/L43 grant). RK, AS, and BL are grateful to the staff of Golden Star pumping facility for logistical support during field sampling. The authors also wish to thank the SARM staff (CRPG-UPR 80) where chemical analyses were carried out

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nancy University–LEM-ENSG/INPL-CNRS, Pôle de l’Eau, 15 Avenue du Charmois, BP 40 54 501, Vandœuvre Cedex, France

    R. El Khatib & J. Houhou

  2. University of Toulouse–GET, 14 Avenue E. Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France

    B. S. Lartiges

  3. Graduate School-Platform of Research for Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Campus Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon

    A. El Samrani

  4. UMR 7566 CNRS G2R, CREGU, Université Henry Poincaré–Nancy I, BP 239 54506, Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France

    P. Faure

  5. Nancy University–SCMEM-FST/UHP, 7137 boulevard des Aiguillettes, BP 239 54506, Vandoeuvre Cedex, France

    J. Ghanbaja

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  1. R. El Khatib
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  2. B. S. Lartiges
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  3. A. El Samrani
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  4. P. Faure
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  5. J. Houhou
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  6. J. Ghanbaja
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Correspondence to R. El Khatib, B. S. Lartiges or A. El Samrani.

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El Khatib, R., Lartiges, B.S., El Samrani, A. et al. Speciation of Organic Matter and Heavy Metals in Urban Wastewaters from an Emerging Country. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 4695–4708 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1226-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1226-1

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