Soil profile as a natural membrane for heavy metals from wastewater

Abstract

The effect of intensive irrigation with wastewater on the zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) concentration in soil solution was investigated. The experiment was parallel conducted on two soil profiles. The soil microcosms were watered with purified wastewater and purified wastewater with an the addition of zinc and cadmium. The results indicate clearly that neither intensive overhead irrigation of the soil nor its flooding with these wastewater and exceeded sorptive capacity. The application of treated wastewater and wastewater with heavy metals addition did not appear to pose a threat to the natural environment. In all the cases under analysis, zinc and cadmium concentrations in the soil solution were several-fold lower than the permissible levels. © 2012 Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences.