Application of XRF, AAS and BCR-Sequential Extraction Procedure for Characterization and Assessment of Metals in Sewage Sludges from Two Treatment Plants in Jordan

This study was performed to characterize and determine the heavy metal contents in sewage sludge from two different wastewater treatment plants in Jordan using three stage BCR(Community Bearue of reference) sequential extraction procedure. The extracts were analyzed for determining Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Microwave digestion procedure was used to investigate the total contents of heavy metals. The obtained results showed a good recovery percentage of the studied metals. The results from the partitioning study indicated that the oxidisable fraction was dominated for Cr, Cd, Fe, Pb and Zn while Mn is the greatest easily mobilized forms in acid exchangeable. Xray fluorescence method was also used in this study in order to evaluate some of other elements such as V and Sc, which indicated an a relatively high concentration levels in both sludges.