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Effects of drinking water treatment residuals on nickel retention in soils: a macroscopic and thermodynamic study

  • SOILS, SEC 3 • REMEDIATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATED OR DEGRADED LANDS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

Recent research has focused on using water treatment residuals (WTRs) as cost-effective materials to remove potential environmental contaminants. To better understand and predict how WTRs affect the mobility and retention of nickel (Ni) in soils with time, it is crucial that the kinetics and thermodynamics of these reactions be understood. Such information is lacking in the literature and would aid in evaluating the suitability of WTR as a soil amendment for adsorbing Ni contaminant. Accordingly, we focused on investigating the retention of Ni in differing soils and the subsequent influence of WTR application on Ni retention.

Materials and methods

To examine the effects of WTR application on the characteristics of Ni retention, equilibrium, and kinetics, sorption batch experiments were performed on three soils having different properties. The sorption data were applied to the first-order kinetic model, and the Arrhenius equation was used to determine the thermodynamic parameters.

Results and discussion

The quantity of Ni sorbed by the soils followed the trend Typic Torrifluvent > Typic Calciorthids > Typic Torripsamment. Soil sorption isotherms shift toward a higher sorption of Ni indicating addition of more sorption sites as a result of WTRs’ application. Data generated at different temperatures for soils and WTR-amended soils fitted well to Freundlich isotherm and first-order kinetic models. The energy of activation (E a) and enthalpy (ΔH #), entropy (ΔS #), and free energy of activation (ΔG #) related to Ni sorption were calculated using the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy (E a) values (51.65–130.0 kJ mol−1) and the positive ΔH # values characterize Ni sorption process onto the sorbents studied as chemisorption with an endothermic nature. The large negative ΔS # values (−262 to −290 J mol−1) and the large positive ΔG # values (88.11–89.14 kJ mol−1) indicate the involvement of an associative mechanism in the Ni sorption process.

Conclusions

WTR addition has led to an overall increase in Ni sorption by the amended soils. Such increase in Ni sorption provides evidence that WTR has the potential for land application as a Ni sorbent in soil remediation techniques. The sorption capacity of the soils and WTR-amended soils enhanced with an increase in temperature. Therefore, to truly understand the potential fate and mobility of Ni in the natural environment, temperature, in particular, should be considered.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the U.S.–Egypt Joint Sciences and Technology Board (ENV10-001-004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Water Sciences, College of Agriculture (Elshatby), Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21545, Egypt

    Elsayed A. Elkhatib, Ahmed M. Mahdy & Mohamed M. ElManeah

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  1. Elsayed A. Elkhatib
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  2. Ahmed M. Mahdy
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  3. Mohamed M. ElManeah
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Correspondence to Elsayed A. Elkhatib.

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Elkhatib, E.A., Mahdy, A.M. & ElManeah, M.M. Effects of drinking water treatment residuals on nickel retention in soils: a macroscopic and thermodynamic study. J Soils Sediments 13, 94–105 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0577-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0577-y

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