ABSTRACT

The level of some heavy metals lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) in wastewater sample collected from a fishpond located in Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic biological garden was determined using standard analytical procedures. The result revealed that the wastewater contained the analyzed heavy metals in the order Pb >Co> Cr >Cd>Ni. The concentration of some the metals analyzed were above the WHO recommended limit but nickel was below. Therefore, the wastewater can contaminate the soil if discharged into the environment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Title page

Certification dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of contents

List of tables

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Aim and Objective of the study

1.2.1 Aim

1.2.2 Objective of the study

1.3 Scope and limitation of the study

1.4 Definition of related terms

CHAPTER: LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1 Sources effects and remediation of heavy metal pollutants in waste water effluents.

2.1.1 Source of heavy metal pollutants in waste water effluents

2.1.2 Effects of heavy metal pollutant in wastewater effluents

2.1.3 Ways of Remediation

2.2 HEAVY METALS AND THEIR TOXICITY EFFECTS

2.2.1 Lead

2.2.2 Cobalt

2.2.3 Nickel

2.2.4 Cadmium

2.2.5 Chromium

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Material

3.1.1 Chemical used / make

3.1.1 Equipment used/ model

3.2 Methods

3.2.1 Sample collection and preparation

3.3 Analytical Procedure

CHAPTER FOUR : RESULT AND DISCUSSION  

4.1 Result

4.2 Discussion

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Recommendation

5.3 Suggestion for further studies

References

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Water is one of the most important and abundant compounds of the ecosystem. All living organism on the earth need water for their survival and growth. As of now only earth is the planet having about 70% of water. But due to increased human population, industrialization use of fertilizers in agriculture and man-made activity, it is highly polluted with different harmful contaminants (Basavaraja simpi et al., 2011).

Metals are substances with high electrical conductivity malleability and luster, which voluntarily lose their electrons to form cations metals are found naturally in the earth’s crust and their composition vary among different localities, resulting in spatial variations of surrounding concentrations (Khlifi and Hamzachaffai, 2010).

Heavy metals are generally referred to as those metals which possess a specific density of more than 5g/cm³ and adversely affect the environment and living organism (Jarup, 2003). They are also referred to as trace elements and are the metallic elements of the periodic table (Salem et al., 2000). Heavy metals occur in small amounts naturally and may enter into aquatic system through leaching of rocks, airborne dust, forest fires and vegetation (Fernandez and Olalla, 2000, Ogoyi et al., 2011). The release of high amount of heavy metals into water bodies creates serious health and environment problem because heavy metals persist in wastewater due to their non-biodegradable and toxicity effect (Jern, 2006). Therefore, to prevent the negative effects of heavy metals toxicity in wastewater, there is need for adequate treatment of effluents before discharge to receiving water bodies. The ultimate goal for treatment is to eliminate any current or potential threat to human and animal health and environment. Although chemical and biological treatment processes exist biological processes are advocated in recent years and are classified into two broad categories: microbial remediation and phytoremediation (USEPA, 2004).

The technique uses biological activity to reduce the toxicity of a pollutant. During microbial remediation, the microorganisms can be at the site of contamination (in- situ) or off site of the contamination site (ex- situ) for remediation. The microbial remediation strategies for heavy metal removal in wastewater include biosorption, bioaugumentation and biosparing (Igwe and Abia, 2005). Phytoremediation is the quality using plant (Pilon- smits, 2005).

In view of this, the paper was designed to assess the level of heavy metals in wastewater effluent from a fishpond to ascertain its toxicity before discharge into the environment.

1.2 Aim and Objectives of the study

1.2.1 Aim

The aim of this research project is to determine the level of some heavy metals (Pb, Co, Ni, Cd and Cr) in wastewater collected from a fishpond located in Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic biological garden.

1.2.2 Objective of the Study

The objectives of this research are as follows:

1. To determine the level of some heavy metals in wastewater from fishpond in Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic biological garden.
2. To compare the values obtained with the WHO permissible limit for heavy metal in wastewater.
3. To ascertain its toxicity level before discharge into the environment

1.3 Scope and Limitation of the Study

 This research work covers the determination of the level of some heavy metals present in waste water collected from fishpond in Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic biological garden and is limited to only some heavy metals due to lack of time and financial constraint.

1.4 Definition of Related Terms

Heavy metals are generally defined as element with relatively high densities and atomic weight greater than 5g/cm³.

Wastewater: Wastewater is water whose physical chemical or biological properties have been changed as a result of the introduction of certain substances which render it unsafe for some purpose such as drinking.

Fishpond:  It is a freshwater pond stocked with fish.