THE EFFECT OF ALUM ON HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN WATER SOURCES FROM USEN, EDO STATE.

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the extent of heavy metal removal on coagulation treatment with alum. The study samples were collected from three different locations in Usen namely; Usen River (sample I), Edo State polytechnic borehole (sample II) and Alaba well (sample III).  The samples were analysed for Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cu by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The comparison of the heavy metals concentrations in the samples with WHO standard for drinking water suggest  that  zinc in all the samples (0.074 – 0.259mg/l) and iron in sample 1(1.830mg/l)  were within the WHO standard range for drinking water. The water samples were treated with coagulant at different concentrations; 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 and 0.50mg/l. The coagulant used was (alum). The treatment reveals that the metal concentration reduced progressively with increasing concentration of the coagulants and at 0.4mg/l Cd was totally eliminated in all samples under study.  Keywords:  Water, heavy metals, Coagulation and Alum