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AGROVOC Keyword: search.filters.agrovoc.heavy metalsCommittee Chair: search.filters.chair.Cainglet, Rica P.

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    Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) concentrations of road-deposited sediments within six public plazas in Iloilo City
    Caceres, Rizza Daphet E. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2011-04)
    Contamination from overland transportation is an unavoidable result of urbanization. Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn arc common heavy metals introduced to the environment by transportation. Road-deposited sediment (RDS) samples were collected from six public plazas (Villa Plaza, Molo Plaza, Mandurriao Plaza, Plaza Libertad, Lapaz Plaza and Jaro Plaza) in Iloilo City from March 2010 to May 2010. 0.5M HC1 was used as extractant and heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) concentrations were determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). The mean concentrations of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in road-deposited sediments from six plazas were 8.79 ± 1.93, 40.90 ± 24.21, 60.74 ± 22.32, and 164.25 ± 25.0 mg/kg, respectively. Metal enrichment of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were approximately xl, x8, x7 and x18 more than the background values respectively. There was no significant temporal variation in metals concentrations of RDS between sampling collections. Generally, RDS from Plaza Libertad has the highest metal concentrations. Cu and Pb metals were highly correlated (R2 = 0.891) indicating possible similar sources. A good correlation (R2 = 0.918) was observed between Pb concentration and the number of vehicles that pass along the plaza per hour. Heavy metal concentrations in sediments from plazas have low hazard quotients but bioaccumulation of metals in the body could cause health effects. Efficiency of digestion procedures varied depending on characteristics, texture and composition of road-deposited sediments. 0.5M HC1 digestion was used because it is simple, cost-effective, time-efficient and it leaches out meaningful amounts of bioavailable metals. Using HC1 as extractant simulates human digestion since human stomach contains HC1 that could leach out metals if road-deposited sediments were ingested.
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    Efficiency of constructed filters in removing heavy metals (Cd,Cu,Pb and Zn) from chemical wastewater
    Albaladejo, Anthony Salvador B. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2012-04)
    The presence of heavy metals at elevated concentrations is a major concern due to its toxic effects to aquatic organisms, plants and humans. Untreated wastewaters from chemistry laboratories could be the key source of heavy metal contamination if not properly processed before disposal to the environment. In this study, the efficiency of the constructed filter, made up of plant-based materials, in removing heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from chemical wastewater was determined. Characterization of the untreated and treated chemical wastewaters was also performed using different water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, TDS, TSS, COD, heavy metals and toxicity. Results show that the untreated chemical wastewater contains high concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd which did not pass the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) standards and considered harmful when released to the environment. The physico-chemical characteristics, such as TSS and TDS, of the untreated wastewater also did not pass the standards set by DENR except for pH, temperature and COD. The quality of the treated wastewater failed to pass the DENR standards for TSS and TDS thus the constructed filter was not efficient in improving the said physico-chemical characteristics of the wastewater. Rice hull was efficient in removing Zn, Cu and Pb. Bagasse was efficient in removing Pb and saw dust was efficient in removing Cu. The constructed filter was able to significantly reduce the concentrations of heavy metals from 18-L chemical wastewater. The removal efficiency was not significantly different from the 9-L volume treatment. Pb concentration was within the DENR standards after treatment while Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations were above the requirement. The initial concentration of the metal in wastewater greatly affects the removal efficiency of the constructed filter. Furthermore, the constructed filter was able to minimize the toxicity of the chemical wastewater. These findings could be of significance in the design of the treatment facility that could address the problem of heavy metal pollution.