Title: Land application and passive stabilisation of pulp and paper biosolids: a case study

Authors: Pascale Champagne, Trisha Westman

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, 58 University Avenue, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6 Canada. ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6 Canada

Abstract: Pulp and paper biosolids from St. Marys Paper were land applied at a five receiving sites and the potential use of the biosolids as an organic amendment was investigated. Pore water analyses indicated that heavy metals were not detected nor significantly different from levels found in samples collected from adjacent undisturbed areas. Landfills previously covered with biosolids revealed that, like composting, natural decomposition in-situ lowered the biosolids C : N ratio yielding a stable organic medium. Hence, the study results indicated that to the biosolids could be stabilised to levels similar to that achieved via composting through prolonged exposure to natural conditions.

Keywords: land application; biosolids; sludge; pulp and paper mills; metals; nutrients; carbon nitrogen ratio; composting; biostabilisation; passive stabilisation; natural decomposition; solid waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2010.032524

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2010 Vol.7 No.3, pp.198 - 216

Published online: 05 Apr 2010 *

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