Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of methods of preparation on distribution of heavy metals in different size fractions of municipal solid waste composts

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study compares the distribution and nature of heavy metals in composts from 12 cities of India, prepared from different types of processed urban solid wastes, namely mixed wastes (MWC), partially segregated wastes (PSWC), and segregated bio-wastes (BWC). Compost samples were physically fractionated by wet sieving, followed by extraction of heavy metals by dilute HCl and NaOH. Bigger particles (>0.5 mm) constituted the major fraction in all three types of composts and had a relatively lower concentration of organic matter and heavy metals, the effect being more pronounced in MWC and PSWC in which a significant portion of the heavy metals was distributed in finer size fractions. Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn were extracted to a greater extent by acid than by alkali, the difference being greater in MWC, which contained a higher amount of mineral matter. In contrast, Cu and Cr were extracted to a greater extent by dilute alkali, particularly from BWC containing a higher amount of organic matter. Water-soluble heavy metals were generally related to the water-soluble C or total C content as well as to pH, rather than to their total contents. This study concludes that wet sieving with dilute acid can effectively reduce heavy metal load in MWC and PSWC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chaney, R.L., & Ryan, J.A. (1994). Risk based standards for As, Pb, and Cd in urban soils. Frankfurt: DECHEMA.

  • Davies, G., Fataftah, A., Cherkasskiy, A., Ghabbour, E.A., Radwan, A., Jansen, S.A., Kolla, S., Paciolla, M.D., Sein, L.T., Buermann, W., Balasubramanian, M., Budnick, J., & Xing, B. (1997). Tight metal binding by humic acids and its role in biomineralization. Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions, 4047–4060.

  • Filgueiras, A. V., Lavilla, I., & Bendicho, C. (2002). Chemical sequential extraction for metal partitioning in environmental solid samples. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 4, 823–857.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaschl, A., Römheld, V., & Chen, Y. (2002). Cadmium binding by fractions of dissolved organic matter and humic substances from municipal solid waste compost. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 1885–1892.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kashem, M. A., Singh, B. R., Kondo, T., Imamul Huq, S. M., & Kawai, S. (2007). Comparison of extractability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn with sequential extraction in contaminated and non-contaminated soils. International journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4, 169–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krauss, P., Blessing, R., & Korherr, U. (1987). Heavy metals in compost from municipal refuse- strategies to reduce their content to acceptable levels. In M. de Bertoldi, M. P. Ferranti, P. L’Hermite, & F. Zucconi (Eds.), Compost: production, quality and use (pp. 254–265). London: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S., Bhattacharyya, J. K., Vaidya, A. N., Chakrabarti, T., Devotta, S., & Akolkar, A. B. (2009). Assessment of the status of municipal solid waste management in metro cities, state capitals, class I cities, and class II towns in India: an insight. Waste Management, 29, 883–895.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leege, P. B., & Thompson, W. H. (1997). Test methods for the examination of composting and compost. Bethesda: The US Composting Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petruzzelli, G., Szymura, I., Lubrano, L., & Pezzarossa, B. (1989). Chemical speciation of heavy metals in different size fractions of compost from solid urban wastes. Environmental Technology Letters, 10, 521–526.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saha, J. K., Panwar, N., & Singh, M. V. (2010). An assessment of municipal solid waste compost quality produced in different cities of India in the perspective of developing quality control indices. Waste Management, 30, 192–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, S., Liu, X., & Duo, L. (2012). Physical and chemical characterization of municipal solid waste compost in different particle size fractions. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 21, 509–515.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal, 462038, India

    J. K. Saha & M. Vassanda Coumar

  2. Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, India

    N. R. Panwar

Authors
  1. J. K. Saha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. R. Panwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Vassanda Coumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. K. Saha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saha, J.K., Panwar, N.R. & Coumar, M.V. Effect of methods of preparation on distribution of heavy metals in different size fractions of municipal solid waste composts. Environ Monit Assess 185, 8815–8821 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3214-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3214-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation