Chemical Analysis of <i>Eucalyptus grandis</i> Wood Manured with Biosolid on Two Valuation Methods

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis followed by a gamma-ray spectroscopy and physico-chemical methods were used to conduct a thorough investigation of the elements transferred from sewage sludge (biosolid) into the wood of Eucalyptus grandis. Four different manure samples were analyzed: control without biosolid and samples with 10, 20 and 40 t ha -1 of biosolid. A significant increase of Ca was detected, but there was no change in K and a clear decline in Mn. The experiment showed that the application of biosolids is a good alternative as fertilizer, since it gives a destination to this residual product without compromising the wood with heavy metals, it can even make the cellulose pulp bleaching process less expensive, due to the decrease of the content of Mn.