Challenges to the extraction of heavy metals from sewage sludge

JRC scientists compared different techniques for the extraction of heavy metals from sewage sludge, the latter being a potential risk to the environment. This work was related to the development of a new sewage sludge certified reference material.

Large amounts of domestic and industrial sewage sludge are currently used in agriculture as a soil conditioner or fertiliser. There are concerns about possible contamination of the soil by organic and inorganic pollutants present in the material.
In the European Union, Directive 86/278/EEC (1986) - and its recent amendments regulates the use of sewage sludge in agricultural disposal to prevent harmful effects on soil, vegetation, animals and humans. The Directive further sets some limit values for concentrations of a range of trace elements (heavy metals).

Further details: Challenges to the extraction of heavy metals from sewage sludge