Characterization of the sludge of Batna (Algeria) waste water treatment plant for its valorization

Boudraa, Issam; Bougherara, Hassina; Cheurfi, Wassila; Kebabi, Brahim

Journal of New Technology and Materials
Volume 7, Numéro 1, Pages 64-68
2017-07-12

Characterization Of The Sludge Of Batna (algeria) Waste Water Treatment Plant For Its Valorization

Authors : Boudraa Issam . Bougherara Hassina . Cheurfi Wassila . Kebabi Brahim .

Abstract

The treated waste waters of the city of Batna (Algeria) hold for about half of the needs of the land farmers in water in this area. The treatment of these waters generates a sludge which is rich in nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds and in organic matters. The purpose of this study is the characterization of this sludge in order to use it as a fertilizer. The X-ray fluorescence analysis allowed detecting the following element in this sludge : Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Ba, Pb. The mass of the previous elements hold 38.52% of the dried sludge total mass. In this sludge, the X-ray diffraction analysis showed the existence of the following phases: (Mg0.03Ca0.97)CO3, SiO2, ZnO, Cu2O and BaPbO3. The trace metals which are present in Batna waste water treatment plant, and the content of which is limited, are the following: Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Their contents are 40 mg/Kg, 240 mg/Kg, 70 mg/Kg, 830 mg/Kg and 3890 mg/Kg, respectively. An extraction in aqueous solution was used for determining the amount of dissolved ions nitrate, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and pH. The results obtained are 530 mg/Kg, 850 mg/Kg and 7.28, respectively.