Characteristics of ABS sludge and its degradation in the soil
1997
Yahya M.N.
ABS (Acrinylamide butadiene styrene) sludge is an industrial waste, produce through an activated sludge process by the plastic industry, for which no technique for disposal has been adopted in Malaysia. There is a need to examine relevant aspects of management of the sludge, particularly concerning the most suitable manner for its disposal. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of land disposal of the sludge based on characteristics of the material as well as bioassays involving selected indicator plants. The first part of the series of studies conducted involved characterisation of different physico-chemical properties of the ABS sludge (ABSS), while the second part involved laboratory degradation and nutrient release studies. The data obtained thus far indicated that sludge has an ash content of 13.2%, loss on ignition of 86.9% organic carbon of 26.2% and a rather high total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) content of 6.0% that renders it suitable for soil application. Chemical analysis of the sludge, however, showed that it contained a variety of heavy metals at various concentrations that could limit its suitability for land disposal without more in-depth studies on plant uptake of metals. Nitrogen mineralisation studies indicated that the sludge decomposed rapidly with concomitant release of 250-300 ug/g of NH4-N or NO3-N over an 8 week period. Hence, supply of nitrogen is not a limiting factor for plant growth in ABSS.
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