Speciation of copper and manganese in effluents from the activated sludge process

Abstract The soluble forms of copper and manganese in effluents from an activated sludge simulation treating a synthetic sewage have been studied. Gel filtration chromatographic analysis of synthetic sewage and final effluents indicated that both metals were maintained in solution by organic metal-binding fractions, although each metal was associated with different fractions. The activated sludge simulation was operated with sludge ages from 6 to 18 days. Copper speciation in the effluent changed with increasing sludge age whereas forms of manganese were little changed. The data obtained indicate that the association of copper and manganese with different metal-binding components may be related to the differences in their observed removal efficiencies. The implications of metal speciation as a factor in controlling the behaviour of metals in the activated sludge process are discussed.

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