Role of evaporation in NH4-N transformations in soils artificially contaminated with blackwater

Rao, SM and Mogili, NV and Arkenadan, L (2020) Role of evaporation in NH4-N transformations in soils artificially contaminated with blackwater. In: Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 20 (1). pp. 165-172.

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Abstract

The study examines the impact of evaporation on the fate of ammonium-N reactions in blackwater-contaminated soils. During evaporation, ammonia (g) volatilization is the preferred route of NH4-N transformation and nitrate formation is initiated thereafter. Ammonia volatilization ceased at residual blackwater contents of 16�40 owing to loss of air-void connectivity. Experimental results indicated that owing to ammonia volatilization and reduced blackwater content only 23�35 of initial NH4-N concentration was transformed to NO3-N. This study also predicted the nitrate accumulation in Mulbagal town aquifer due to blackwater discharge from pit toilets. The prediction indicated that the permissible (45 mg/L) nitrate concentration in the aquifer may have been breached several decades ago, exposing the populace to prolonged drinking water contamination.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Water Science and Technology: Water Supply
Publisher:	IWA PUBLISHING
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to IWA PUBLISHING
Keywords:	Ammonia; Aquifers; Evaporation; Groundwater; Groundwater pollution; Groundwater resources; Nitrates; Nitrification; Potable water; Soils, Ammonia volatilization; Blackwater; Contaminated soils; N transformation; Nitrate accumulation; Nitrate concentration; Pit toilet; Water contamination, Soil pollution
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Centre for Sustainable Technologies (formerly ASTRA) Division of Mechanical Sciences > Civil Engineering
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2020 10:49
Last Modified:	23 Jun 2020 10:49
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/64696

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