Research Reports

Global Atlas of Excreta, Wastewater Sludge, and Management: Moving Forward the Sustainable and Welcome uses of a Global Resource

www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Global Atlas of Excreta.pdf

Biosolids - A Fuel or a Waste

The link below accesses a paper published in the journal of Envirnomental Science and Technolgy in 2006.  It discusses the findings of five technologies for the co-combustion of biosolids in the United Kingdom.  The article reports that "All scenarios provided a net energy gain (0.58 - 5.0 kWhr/kg dry solids), having accounted for the energy required for transportation and sludge drying."

www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Cartmell_BiosolidsFuelorWaste.pdf

Triclocarban, Triclosan, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and 4-Nonylphenol in Biosolids and in Soil Receiving 33-Year Biosolids Application

The link below accesses a paper published in the journal of Envirnomental Toxicology and Chemistry in 2010.  It explains the findings of study conducted on biosolids from 16 wastewater treatment plants on soils receiving applications of biosolids for 33 years.

www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Biosolids J of Env Tox and Chem 2010.pdf

Assessing the Fate and Significance of Microconstituents and Pathogens in Sewage Sludge

Posted on the N-Viro website July 26, 2010

www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Assessing-the-Fate-Report-2010.pdf
 

Results of Testing Conducted in Canada on 119 Emerging Substances of Concern (ESoC's) Present in Plants Grown with N-Viro Soil Amendment

N-Viro is committed to marketing a safe and beneficial soil amendment and regularly embarks on additional non-prescribed testing to address emerging concerns related to the land application of Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) to agricultural lands.  At present, we are voluntarily participating in a number of research programs on biosolids including:

-          Vineland Research Station, University of Guelph
-          CCME Biosolids Contaminants Testing Program
-          Nova Scotia Agricultural College Biosolids Contaminants Testing Program
-          Ag Canada – London Ontario Biosolids Contaminants Testing Program 

Much discussion surrounds Emerging Substances of Concern (“ESoC”) that may be present in biosolids and the effects of environmental exposure to these ESoC’s when biosolids are applied to agriculture land. 

Dr. K. Helen Fisher is currently investigating the impact of various NASM materials on grape vine growth and fruit bearing capacity. This study has been conducted for the past three (3) years in Vineland, Ontario. In September, 2009, Dr. Fisher agreed to provide N-Viro with composite samples of grapes grown from vines that had been fertilized with NVSA. A composite control sample was also provided.

Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM)

The Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment (CCME) established a Biosolids Task Group (BTG) which is preparing information that can be used as a guide for biosolids management practices.  The BTG retained SYLVIS to prepare the Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM), the BEAM user guide and the BEAM final report.

One of the case studies presented in the BEAM final report is based on a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Nova Scotia (Mill Cove WWTP) that delivers its biosolids to the Halifax Biosolids Processing facility.  The biosolids processing facility employs the N-Viro Process™ for effective stabilization of biosolids and production of N-Viro Soil Amendment.  Of all the case studies presented in the report, the Mill Cove WWTP ranked third-best with an overall carbon credit of (-0.15) MgCO2eq/Mg dry solids. 

The link below will allow the reader to review the BEAM, the BEAM user guide and the BEAM Final Report.

http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/waste.html?category_id=137

This following link is the BEAM Final Report titled "The Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM): A Method for Determining Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Canadian Biosolids Management Practices."

http://www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/beam_final_report_1432.pdf

Examples of Scientific Studies Relating to the Use of Biosolids

Surveys, Literature Review and Analytical Results for Biosolids

General Information

2. A&L Laboratories, Ontario http://www.alcanada.com/home.php
3. Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME), http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/waste.html?category_id=137

4. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/fereng/tmemo/t-4-93e.shtml
5. Nova Scotia Department of Environment “Guidelines for Land Application and Storage of Municipal Biosolids in Nova Scotia”, revised March, 2010 http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/water/docs/BiosolidGuidelines.pdf
6. Nova Scotia Land Review Committee, 2010, Preservation of Agricultural Land in Nova Scotia. http://www.gov.ns.ca/agri/elibrary/nsalrc/
7. N-Viro Soil® Amendment analysis http://www.n-viro.ca/nviro/results-nova-scotia
8. Standards Council of Canada (SCC) http://www.scc.ca/en/programs-services/laboratories
9. University of Arizona – research on the benefits and potential health and environmental impact of biosolids http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/consumer/az1426.pdf

1. Canadian Journal of Analytical Science and Spectroscopy. 2004, Unregulated Metals in Municipal Biosolids: Determinations of Sn and Tl. Hargreaves, J., Smith, P., Hale, B., 49(2), 1-7.
2. Global Atlas of Excreta, Wastewater Sludge, and Management: Moving Forward the Sustainable and Welcome uses of a Global Resource, 2008; UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT). www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Global Atlas of Excreta.pdf
3. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2006.  Biosolids—A Fuel or a Waste? An Integrated Appraisal of Five Co-combustion Scenarios with Policy Analysis, Cartmell et al. www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Cartmell_BiosolidsFuelorWaste.pdf
4. Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2010.  Triclocarban, Triclosan, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and 4-Nonylphenol in Biosolids and in Soil Receiving 33-Year Biosolids Application; Xia et al. http://www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Biosolids%20J%20of%20Env%20Tox%20and%20Chem%202010.pdf

6. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 2004, Biosolids Land Application Project (Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association).  http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croptalk/2004/ct_0304a5.htm
7. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 2009, Field Survey of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in Sewage Biosolids Treated Ontario Agricultural Soils: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/field/s98toc.htm

9. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Biosolids: What biosolids are; How biosolids are used; How Ontario ensures biosolids are safe to use,   http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/subject/biosolids/index.htm
10. Quebec Ministry of the Environment, Land application of biosolids in Saguenay: Impacts on soil quality 16 years later; presented at the 5th Canadian Residuals & Biosolids Conference, Water Environment Association,Perron and Hebert, September, 2009, http://www.weao.org/committees/biosolids/5randb/papers/Program_at_a_Glance.htm
11. Water Environment Association of Ontario, 2010. Assessing the Fate and Significance of Microconstituents and Pathogens in Sewage Sludge; www.n-viro.ca/bank/pageimages/Assessing-the-Fate-Report-2010.pdf

1. Agricultural Water Management, 2006, Prediction of liquid municipal biosolids and precipitation induced tile flow in a Southern Ontario agricultural field using MACRO. Akhand, D.R., Lapen, D.R., Edwards, M., Topp, E., Sabourin, L., Ball-Coelho, B., Duenk, P., Payne, M. 83:37-50.
2. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), 2008, Using MACRO to simulate liquid sewage biosolids transport to tile drains for several land application methods. Akhand, N, Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Edwards, M., Sabourin, L., Ball-Coelho, B., Duenk P., Payne, M.; Trans. 51:1235-1245.
3. ASABE, 2006, Persistence associated with liquid swine manure and liquid municipal biosolids in repacked sand columns with artificial macropores. Rahman, S., Topp, E., Edwards, M., and Lapen, D.R. 2006. Annual International Meeting, Paper number: 0621
4. Biosystems Eng., 2007, Potential of brilliant blue dye to inform timing of liquid biosolid application. Turpin, K.M., D.R. Lapen, M.J.L. Robin, E. Topp, M. Edwards, W.E. Curnoe, B. Ball-Coelho, N.B. McLaughlin and M. Payne; 98:235-247.
5. Commonwealth of Virginia, December 22, 2008. HJR 694 Biosolids Expert Panel Final Report http://www.virginiabiosolids.com/pdf/2008_Biosolids_Expert_Panel_Final_Report.pdf
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007, Epidemiological Surveillance and Investigation of Illness Reported by Neighbours of Biosolids Land Application Sites, Phase I, (WERF 06-HHE-5PP). Aitken, M., Crump, C., Heaney, C., Lowman, A., MacDonald, P., and Wing, S. 
7. Water Environment Federation Residuals and Biosolids conference, Portland, Oregon. May 2009. Pathogen Characterization of Fresh and Stored Biosolids and Implications of a Screening Level Microbial Risk Assessment. Flemming, C., Soller, J., Simhon, A., Seto E. 2009. 

1. Chemosphere, 2007, Sample Storage and Extraction Efficiencies in Determination of Polycyclic and Nitro Musks in Sewage Sludge; SA Smyth, L Lishman, M Alaee, S Kleywegt, L Svoboda, J-J Yang, H-B Lee and P Seto;, V. 67 pp 267-275.
2. International Water Association (IWA) Specialist Conference on Moving Forward Biosolids Sustainability, June 2007, Moncton, NB. Fate of Polycyclic and Nitro Musks during Aerobic and Anaerobic Sludge Digestion; SA Smyth, L Lishman, EA McBean, S Kleywegt, J-J Yang, ML Svoboda, H-B Lee and P Seto;
3. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science, 2007, Seasonal occurrence and removal of polycyclic and nitro musks from wastewater treatment plants in Ontario, Canada. Smyth, S.A., Lishman, L., McBean, E.A., Kleywegt, S., Yang, J.J., Svoboda, M.L., Lee, H-B., and Seto; P. 7, 299-317.
4. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2008, Effect of Liquid Municipal Biosolids Application Method on Tile and Ground Water Quality, Lapen, D. R., Topp, E., Edwards M., Sabourin L., Curnoe W., Gottschall N., Bolton, P., Rahman, S., Ball-Coelho, B., Payne. M., Kleywegt, S., McLaughlin N. 37, 925-936.
5. Science of the Total Environment, 2006, Occurrence and Reductions of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Estrogen by Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in Ontario, Canada;  L. Lishman, SA Smyth, K. Sarafin, S Kleywegt, J. Toito, T Peart, H-B Lee, M Servos, M. Beland and P Seto;
6. Science of the Total Environment, 2008, Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in tile drainage following land application of municipal biosolids, Lapen, D.R., Topp, E., Metcalfe, C.D., Li, H.X., Edwards, M., Gottschall, N., Bolton, P., Curnoe, W.E., Payne, M., Beck, A., 2008., 399, 50-65.
7. Science of the Total Environment, 2008. Runoff of pharmaceuticals and personal care products following application of biosolids to an agricultural field. Topp E., Moteiro S.C., Beck, A., Coelho B.B., Boxall A., Duenk P.W., Kleywegt S., Lapen D.R., Payne P., Sabourin L., Li H., Metcalfe C. D.
8. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 2007, Polycyclic and nitro musks in Canadian municipal wastewater: occurrence and removal in wastewater treatment. Smyth, S.A., Lishman, L., McBean, E.A., Kleywegt, S., Yang, J.J., Svoboda, M.L., Ormonde, S., Pileggi, V., Lee, H-B., and Seto; P. 24 (3), 138-152.

8. Town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, resolution supporting “the principle that the biosolid waste product be reduced as much as possible by the removal of useful components (fertilizer elements, energy, etc.) and the harmful residue secured.” See page 21: http://www.wolfville.ca/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=1010&Itemid=175