An assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface sediment using statistical analysis.

The distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in the sediments, especially those nearest of wastewater discharges of south of Spain, were investigated. Sediment samples from 14 locations were collected and characterised for metal content (e.g. Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Mn, Cd and Hg), organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, n-hexane-extractable material, carbonates and grain size. Concentration data were processed using correlation analysis and factor analysis. The correlation analysis of concentrations data showed important positive correlations among organic carbon, total phosphorus, Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg, otherwise weak correlations among Mn, Cr, Ni and CO(3) (2-), indicating that these metals have complicated geochemical behaviours. The use of statistical factor analysis also confirmed these results. Sediments pollution assessment was carried out using geoaccumulation and metal pollution indexes (MPI(8)). The results revealed that sediments of Cádiz bay and Sancti Petri channel were uncontaminated with the studied metals.

Use of microbial activity parameters for determination of a biosolid stability index.

Variations in microbial activity during the aerobic digestion of sludge generated at wastewater treatment plants were studied. Results obtained by the measurement of enzymatic activity and microbiological parameters were compared with those determined by traditional methods (COD, suspended solids, etc.). Their variation with digestion time was monitored for batch digestion over a period of 135 days. The relationship between these measurements and control parameters of the sludge was also investigated. It was found that the traditional physicochemical and microbiological parameters present a series of problems which detract from their usefulness. The enzymatic parameters dehydrogenase activity (primary metabolism) and esterase activity (secondary metabolism) are better able to characterise the process, and the ratio of these two variables may be used to estimate the degree of endogenesis and, consequently, the degree of stability of the aerobic sludge digestion. In addition, these techniques are swift and simple to employ.