Analysis of Heavy Metal Fraction Content in Sewage Sludge from Selected Wastewater Treatment Plants

Assessment of the assimilability of elements contained in sewage sludge can only be carried out if their fractions, by means of which the chemical form of the element can be identified, are determined. The total content of heavy metals only makes it possible to determine whether the sludge meets the legal requirements and can be used, inter alia, for reclamation, in agriculture or for the adaptation of land to specific needs that result from waste management plans. Therefore, when planning the agricultural use of sewage sludge, attention should be paid above all to the heavy metal fractions contained in it. This is due to the fact that plants do not assimilate every form of element to the same extent. The research and analysis carried out indicate that the metals were most closely related to fractions IV and III, for example they formed connections with silicates, as well as sulphides and organic matter. The metal forms available to plants occupied a small percentage of the total heavy metal content. It was noted that with the metastable fraction of lead increased along with population equivalent. Furthermore, the population equivalent value did not affect the distribution of individual heavy metal fractions in the sludge.