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Compounds of Zinc and Copper in Sewage Sludge Determined by Electron Spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Cothern C. R.,
Grote R. F.,
Moddeman W. E.,
Ritter C. J.,
Zamierowski E. E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1977.00472425000600020013x
Subject(s) - electronegativity , chemistry , zinc , copper , inorganic chemistry , binding energy , chemical state , electron spectroscopy , zinc phosphate , carbonate , metal , sewage sludge , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , nuclear chemistry , sewage , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , waste management , physics , nuclear physics , engineering
Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) was used to provide information concerning the chemical bonding of zinc and copper present in the sludge obtained from the Dayton, Ohio sewage treatment plant. The binding energy of the Zn 2p 3/2 electron in sludge when placed under a vacuum of 10 −7 Torr was 1023.8 ± 0.2 eV and the binding energy of the Cu 2p 3/2 electron in the sludge under similar conditions was 937.2 ± 0.3 eV. These energies are characteristic of both Zn and Cu being in the positive two oxidation state. The electronegativity of the ligand attached to either of these metals was found to be 3.5 ± 0.1 on the Pauling scale. This indicates that Zn and Cu exist in similar compounds, that the ligand binding site is oxygen, and that the possible compounds include carbonate, carboxylate, phosphate, nitrate, silicate, and/or oxide. ESCA, when used in conjunction with other methods, offers excellent potential for more specifically identifying the chemical form of metal in sludge or sludge mixtures.