3.

0 DATA & RESULT

HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION OF

HEAVY METAL(PPM)
Fe 18.2 (1.3 x 14)
Cu 3.28 (0.82 x 4 )
Zn 0.76 (0.04 x 19)
Initial pH 8.61

HEAVY METAL COLOUR CHANGES

Iron (Fe)

First Dilution: Correction Factor 4

Second Dilution: Correction Factor 14

Copper (Cu)

First Dilution: Correction Factor 4

 Zinc (Zn)

First Dilution: Correction Factor 4

Second Dilution: Correction Factor 14

Third Dilution: Correction Factor 19

DISCUSSION
The purpose of the experiment is to test the concentration of the heavy metal in
wastewater sample using DR900 Multiparameter Portable Colorimeter. Waste need to be
tested before discharge to the river. Therefore, this test was conducted to determine either the
concentration approached standard as enlist in fifth schedule of Environmental Quality
(Industrial Effluents) Regulations 2009. Contamination of water happened due to presence of
pollutant. However, heavy metal one of the pollutants that receive paramount attention to the
chemist due to their toxic nature and may impose serious health problem to human and others
ecosystem (Masindi & Muedi, 2018).

The test began by vigorous digestion method that had been approved by US EPA
(United States Environmental Protection Agency). The main purpose was to break the
organo-metallic bonds of the iron for metal analysis and to prevent any interference occurs
during detection analysis. The sample pH was measured first. Theoretically, low pH level can
promote heavy metal solubility due to suspension of hydrogen ions and its leads to high toxic
water (Fondriest Environmental, Inc, 2013). Based on sample, the pH level achieved 8.61 and
indicates low solubility of heavy metal. The digestion process required additions of Nitric
Acid and heat. Nitric acid was used to minimize the metal cation precipitation and to ensure
all the metal dissolved completely. The glass watch uses to cover the beaker to promotes
acid reflux. However, precipitation do occur in the process and required additions 5ml of 1:1
hydrochloric acid. By this combination, safety need to be prioritized due to releasing of toxic
from the solution. After digestion process settle down, the sample was diluted by correction
factor of 4 and been tested by the DR900 Multiparameter Portable Colorimeter for the
presence of heavy metal in waste water.

The pH of raw sewage sludge was 8.61 which indicate that the sewage was slightly
alkali. In municipal and industrial wastewater there are many factors which contribute
alkalinity such as the type of dissolved inorganic and organic compounds present in the
water, the amount of suspended organic matter in the water, the presence or absence of free
hydroxyl alkalinity, the amount of bicarbonate in the water, the bicarbonate to dissolved CO2
ratio and is indirectly correlated to the amount of dissolved solids in the water (Martin
Marietta Magnesia Specialties, LLC, 2015). Therefore, the waste water need to undergo
digestion to breakdown organo-metallic bond and free ion that present in the sample. Our
results clearly indicate that the content of organic matter in the raw sewage sludge which
content Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe). From the graph it shows that the waste water
contains highest concentration of Iron (18.2 ppm), followed by Copper (3.28 ppm) and Zinc
(0.76 ppm).

For Iron testing, FerroVer iron reagent. FerroVer is the only USEPA-accepted method
for reporting total iron and orange colour will form if the ferrous iron present. This method is
used for measuring concentration of iron ranging from 0.02 to 3.00 mg/L Fe. Based on data
presented above it shows that the concentration of iron in the waste water was higher which is 18.2
mg/L from their measuring range therefore, the colour obtained was slightly cloudy and different from
expected colour due to high concentration of iron presence in the sample. For copper testing, the
method used is known as bicinchoninate method . This method is used for measuring
concentration of copper from 0.04 up to 5.00 mg/L Cu. When the sample was added with
CuVer 1 Copper Reagent Powder Pillow, the solution will form a purple-colored complex in
proportion to the copper concentration. Based on the result, no colour change was form maybe
due to low concentration of copper and the reading obtained was 3.28 mg/L. For Zinc testing,
method used is known as Zincon method that usually used for measuring concentration of
zinc ranging from 0 to 3.00 mg/L. When the sample was added with ZincoVer 5 Powder
Pillows, the sample should be orange. If it is brown or blue, the zinc concentration is too high
or an interference is present and sample need to be dilute. The sample show purple colour and
was dilute again and colour change to light orange as expected and the reading shows 0.76
mg/L which shows that the zinc concentration is in their range of measurement.

Overall, the heavy metals presence in the waste water sample were found above the
permissible level for discharge of industrial effluent for both Iron and Copper while zinc is
still in permissible limit for discharge (Refer appendix K2 in appendices). This shows that the
wastewater not comply to standard A and standard B and was higly polluted due to the high
concentration of heavy metals. These heavy metal has possibility to effect fish fauna and fish
will die. Therefore, it can be conclude that that the wastewater sample used in this experiment
is not suitable for drinking and irrigation purpose and fall under class IV river which has no
purpose. The river need to undergo treatment (Primary treatment, Chemical treatment,
Biological treatment and Advance treatment) to be classified under class I, Class II or Class
III according to National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia.
REFERENCES

1. Masindi, V. & Muedi, K. L (2018). Environmental contamination by heavy metals.

IntechOpen. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76082
2. Fondriest Environmental, Inc. (2013). pH of water. Fundamentals of Environmental
Measurements. Retrieved from https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-
measurements/parameters/water-quality/ph/
3. Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties, LLC. Retrieved from:
https://magnesiaspecialties.com/wp-content/uploads/Role-of-Alkalinity-in-Aerobic-
Wastewater-Treatment-Plants-MgO-vs-Caustic-Soda1.pdf
APPENDICES