Abstract
A coal-based thermal power plant is situated on the bank of the Pandu River, which is a tributary to the Ganges near Kanpur. River sediments downstream from the ash pond outfall are contaminated by fly ash. In order to establish the role of soils and sediments in retaining fly ash-derived heavy metals, copper was investigated as a model metal. A maximum concentration of 70 ppm Cu could be leached from the fly ash, confirming that it is a major source of this metal. Soil samples and river sediments were examined for Cu adsorption in the natural state as well as after treatment with H2O2, EDTA, and H2O2 followed by EDTA. The organic fraction of the samples was determined, and it had a major control on removal of Cu from a solution with 10−4 M initial concentration. Further characterization of organic matter indicated that with reference to natural samples, the humic acid fraction had a copper enrichment factor in the range 9.1–15.1. The factor for fulvic acids, in contrast, was between 3.5 and 5.5. This leads to the conclusion that river deposits rich in humic acids would withstand relatively high metal loads. Only when the metal input exceeds the maximum retention potential, would the metal be fractionated into the aqueous phase and act as a potential biocide.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Arora HC and Routh T (1980) Studies on a small river receiving wastewater from a nitrogenous fertilizer factory. J Inst Pub Health Eng India 3:35–50
Chapman HD (1965) Cation exchange capacity. In: Black CA (Ed), Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Madison: American Society of Agronomy, pp 891–901
Ferraiolo G, Zilli M, and Converti A (1990) Fly ash disposal and utilization. J Chem Tech Biotechnol 47:281–305
Hirata S (1981) Stability constants for the complexes of transition metal ions with fulvic and humic acids in sediments measured by gel filtration. Talanta 28:809–815
Jackson ML (1958) Soil Chemical Analysis. London: Constable & Co., 498 pp
Kamprath EJ and Welch CD (1962) Retention and cation exchange properties of organic matter in coastal plain soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 26:263–265
Mouvet C and Bourg ACM (1983) Speciation (including adsorbed species) of copper, lead, nickel and zinc in the Meuse river. Water Res 17:641–649
Msaky JJ and Calvet R (1990) Adsorption behaviour of Cu and Zn in soils, influence of pH on adsorption characteristics. Soil Sci 150:513–522
Nriagu JO and Coker RD (1980) Trace metals in humic and fulvic acids from Lake Ontario sediments. Environ Sci Technol 14:443–446
Patel CB and Pandey GS (1987) Permeation of some toxic elements in soil horizon through thermal power plant fly ash fallout. Indian J Environ Health 29:26–31
Schnitzer M and Khan SU (1972) Humic substances in the environment. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc., 327 pp
Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater (1971) New York: Jointly published by AWWA, APHA and NPCF, 13th ed., 769 pp
Takamatsu T and Yoshida T (1978) Determination of stability constants of metai-humic acid complexes by potentiometric titration and ion-selective electrodes. Soil Sci 125:377–386
Watt JD and Thorne DJ (1965) Composition and pozzolanic properties of pulverized fuel ashes, I. Composition of fly ashes from some British power stations and properties of their component particles. J Appl Chem 15:585–594
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ravi Chander, D.V., Venkobachar, C. & Raymahashay, B.C. Retention of fly ash-derived copper in sediments of the Pandu River near Kanpur, India. Geo 24, 133–139 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00767886
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00767886