title: A multi-technique investigation of copper and zinc distribution, speciation and potential bioavailability in biosolids.
abstract: The use of biosolids in agriculture continues to be debated, largely in relation to their metal contents. Our knowledge regarding the speciation and bioavailability of biosolids metals is still far from complete. In this study, a multi-technique approach was used to investigate copper and zinc speciation and partitioning in one contemporary and two historical biosolids used extensively in previous research and field trials. Using wet chemistry and synchrotron spectroscopy techniques it was shown that copper/zinc speciation in the biosolids was largely equivalent despite the biosolids being derived from different countries over a 50 year period. Furthermore, copper speciation was consistently dominated by sorption to organic matter whereas Zn partitioned mainly to iron oxides. These data suggest that the results of historical field trials are still relevant for modern biosolids and that further risk assessment studies should concentrate particularly on Cu as this metal is associated with the mineralisable biosolids fraction.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, South Australia 5095, Australia. erica.donner@unisa.edu.au
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donner
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zarcinas
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Scheckel
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naidu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lombi
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc