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Nutrient Content in Sludge Profiles from a Full‐Scale Stabilization Pond in a Temperate Location
Author(s) -
Faleschini Mauricio,
Esteves José L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.1002/j.1554-7531.2014.tb00136.x
Subject(s) - nutrient , environmental science , facultative , inlet , temperate climate , denitrification , water column , environmental chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental engineering , ecology , nitrogen , chemistry , biology , geology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
The inorganic nutrient concentrations in sludge profiles from a full‐scale municipal facultative pond in Puerto Madryn City (Argentina) were measured. Sludge samples were collected with cores during autumn, winter, and summer at three sites: inlet, intermediate, and outlet. In general, the sludge accumulates NH 4 + and PO 4 3– , increasing their concentrations with depth. However, NH 4 + presented a different behavior at the outlet station during the summer, when the lower concentrations were recorded. This finding reflects a nutrient release, originating in their greater demand from the water column. In the sludge, the NO 3 – followed the spatial and seasonal pattern recorded in the surface water: detectable concentrations in the warmer months at the outlet. The vertical reduction of NO 3 – could be an indication of denitrification. The study supported the hypothesis that the sludge can act as a nutrient trap or source, depending on factors such as the temperature, nutrients/oxygen concentration, mixing processes, and location.