Assessment of concentration of copper and zinc in soil around mature city waste dumpsites (P-0765) (MFN 3051)

Abstract

Lab work was carried out from July 2011 to august 2011 for the assessment of Zinc and Copper in soil near mature city waste dump-sites of Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad under artificial rain. Ten samples were collected at three different sites from H-10 sector in Islamabad. Five samples were collected at two different sites from a landfill site present near Amen Pur Bangla on Sargodha Road, Faisalabad. Two samples were collected at one site from Mehmood Booti, Ring Road Lahore, which is a dumping site of Lahore Compost Pvt. Ltd.All samples were leached under artificial rain for five times. Using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer the concentration of Zn and Cu was measured in all leachate samples. The samples were characterized for their pH, electrical conductivity, moisture content and dissolve organic carbon values. The basic purpose of this study was determination of Cu and Zn in solid waste leachate and their transport under synthetic. To determine the release mechanism of heavy metals from the solid waste at dumpsites, leach tests is performed. Chemical properties important for understanding the Cu and Zn mobility from soild waste under synthetic rain were determined. It is suggested that results from leach tests should therefore be critically evaluated before making any conclusions concerning the release mechanism. On the base of the leach tests, we suggest that the procedure for the leach test should be modified. For the waste studied, using larger volumes of leachant might give better results.