Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge: A Case Study of Limpopo Province, South Africa
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. The Study Area
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Sample Sites and Sample Collection
3.2. Preparation of Samples
- 2 g (or 0.002 kg) of the milled sewage sludge sample was weighed and placed in a conical flask.
- 20 mL of HNO3 (55% concentration) were added
- Heated at 90 °C for 45 minutes.
- Temperature was the increased to 150 °C for 10 min.
- During heating and boiling, 10 mL of HNO3 (55% concentration) was added periodically three times to make sure that the liquid remains.
- The mixture was allowed to cool at room conditions.
- Following cooling, the samples were filtered into 100 mL volumetric flasks and filled to the mark with distilled water.
3.3. Metal Analysis by ICP AES and ICP-MS
3.4. Data Analysis
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Presence of Silver in the Sludge from Limpopo Province
4.2. The Presence of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sludge
Metal | Thohoyandou | Polokwane | Tzaneen | Louis Trichardt | Musina | Pit toilet | DWAF guidelines * [10] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total maximum threshold | Maximum permissible level | |||||||
Cr # | 64.36 | 134.48 | 53.47 | 97.12 | 35.07 | 44.13 | 350 | 450 |
Ni | 33.90 | 47.27 | 31.34 | 51.43 | 35.23 | 18.89 | 150 | 200 |
Cd | 0.82 | 3.10 ** | 1.39 | 1.66 | 1.06 | 0.32 | 3 | 5 |
Pb | 34.56 | 102.83 ** | 52.26 | 171.87 ** | 21.28 | 17.96 | 100 | 150 |
Cu | 377.95 ** | 324.83 ** | 263.68 ** | 499.28 ** | 626.00 ** | 80.80 | 120 | 375 |
Zn | 1192.50 ** | 1551.50 ** | 951.25 ** | 1732.00 ** | 1031.75 ** | 303.83 ** | 200 | 700 |
4.2.1. Cadmium
4.2.2. Lead
4.2.3. Copper
4.2.4. Zinc
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Shamuyarira, K.K.; Gumbo, J.R. Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge: A Case Study of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 2569-2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110302569
Shamuyarira KK, Gumbo JR. Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge: A Case Study of Limpopo Province, South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2014; 11(3):2569-2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110302569
Chicago/Turabian StyleShamuyarira, Kudakwashe K., and Jabulani R. Gumbo. 2014. "Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge: A Case Study of Limpopo Province, South Africa" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11, no. 3: 2569-2579. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110302569