Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function

Durenkamp, Mark, Pawlett, Mark, Ritz, Karl, Harris, Jim A., Neal, Andrew L. and McGrath, Steve P. (2016) Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function. Environmental Pollution, 211 . pp. 399-405. ISSN 1873-6424

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Abstract

One of the main pathways by which engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) enter the environment is through land application of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) sewage sludges. WWTP sludges, enriched with Ag and ZnO ENPs or their corresponding soluble metal salts during anaerobic digestion and subsequently mixed with soil (targeting a final concentration of 1400 and 140 mg/kg for Zn and Ag, respectively), were subjected to 6 months of ageing and leaching in lysimeter columns outdoors. Amounts of Zn and Ag leached were very low, accounting for <0.3% and <1.4% of the total Zn and Ag, respectively. No differences in total leaching rates were observed between treatments of Zn or Ag originally input to WWTP as ENP or salt forms. Phospholipid fatty acid profiling indicated a reduction in the fungal component of the soil microbial community upon metal exposure. However, overall, the leachate composition and response of the soil microbial community following addition of sewage sludge enriched either with ENPs or metal salts was very similar.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: Greenhouse gases, Nitrification, PLFA, Silver nanoparticles, Zinc oxide nanoparticles
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences > Division of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.12.063
Depositing User: Eprints, Support
Date Deposited: 02 Aug 2017 09:40
Last Modified: 08 May 2020 09:45
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/44567

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