Assessing potential use of garbage enzyme in heavy metal removal of water treatment sludge and its contribution to human health

Mohd Rosdi, Muhammad Ashril (2019) Assessing potential use of garbage enzyme in heavy metal removal of water treatment sludge and its contribution to human health. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Heavy metals in Water Treatment Sludge (WTS) pose acute and chronic health risks to adult and children. Since there are limitations such as limited disposal facilities and expensive costs, most sludge is disposed at landfill and eventually degraded to form leachate that contaminate soil and water sources. A low cost and environmentally friendly technology like Garbage Enzyme (GE) is needed to tackle this issue. Objectives: To assess potential use of GE, derived from food wastes to remove heavy metals in water treatment sludge and its contribution to human health. Methodology: Six different types of food wastes (i.e. citrus peels, banana peels, carrot wastes, potato wastes, nut wastes and black bean wastes) were fermented for 4 weeks to produce GEs and the physico-chemical characteristics of GE (i.e. pH and temperature) were assessed using CyberScan pH 300 Portable pH meter (Eutech Instruments). Citric acid concentration of GE was also determined using acid-base titration technique. The sludge samples were collected at Bukit Nanas Water Treatment Plant using APHA standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 1999. During treatment of sludge using GEs, the pH and temperature of sludge samples were assessed. The heavy metal concentrations (Lead, Zinc and Copper) of sludge samples were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). The obtained concentrations of heavy metals were then compared by types of sludge samples and also used for health risk calculation via ingestion. Results: There were significant mean difference of pH and temperature among GEs. For sludge samples, there was a significant mean difference of pH levels among sludge samples but no significant difference of temperature. There was a fair negative association (r = -0.358) between temperature and pH of GE. There was a good negative association (r = -0. 73) between lead concentration in sludge samples and citric acid concentration of GE. All heavy metals in this study did not show any significant health risk (HQ < l , LCR within acceptable risk). Conclusion: Garbage Enzyme is potential be used to remove heavy metals in water treatment sludge. Keywords: Garbage Enzyme, Water Treatment Sludge, Heavy Metals, Health Risk

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	09 Apr 2025 01:52
Last Modified:	09 Apr 2025 01:52
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2345

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