NEW APPROACH TO REMEDIATION OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTANTS FROM WASTEWATER AND SEDIMENT USING SENNA OCCIDENTALIS PLANT AND QUAIL EGGSHELL MATERIALS

Abstract

Searching for the alternative low cost and available material for the remediation of heavy metals in wastewater and soil has been our concern. In this work, Senna occidentalis materials (leaves and seeds), their modified forms and quail eggshell materials were tested for their potentials to remove heavy metals from wastewater and soil. The native and modified plant biomasses were characterised using Infra-Red and Scanning Electron Microscopic techniques. From the blends of Senna occidentalis leaves and seeds (BLAS), acid modified blend of Senna occidentalis leaves and seeds (AMB) and formaldehyde modified blend of Senna occidentalis leaves and seeds (FMB) were used for the removal of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions from wastewaters. The efficiency of the metal removal was in the order FMB > AMB > BLAS. The results of speciation study in the sediments indicated that all the metals studied were mobile at 29.35 – 42.67% level and thus could be ecologically risky. Remediation through the use of calcium extract (Ca-extract) of quail eggshell compared favourably with conventional reagent (MgCl2) in extracting studied metals from sediment. The materials and technique utilised in this work are affordable and could be used by the rural dwellers as well as industries at near zero cost.