Residual sludge: what characterization and environmental impacts for spreading?

Abstract

The production of the residual sludge from the wastewater treatment plant raises constantly. The physical and chemical characterization of residual sludge becomes an important challenge to maximize their valorisation by agricultural spreading. This special issue deals with the last scientific results concerning the definition of characteristics of the residual sludge, composition and consistency and methods of treatment. It presents some aspects of scientific results on the unknown consequences concerning their spreading on the plant development, soils and concentration of heavy metals in the plants.