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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

1.1 ABSTRACT/SUMMARY 2

1.2 INTRODUCTION 3

1.3 AIMS 5

1.4 THEORY 5

1.5 APPARATUS AND MATERIALS 7

1.6 METHODOLOGY/PROCEDURE 8

1.7 RESULTS 11

1.8 CALCULATIONS 12

1.9 DISCUSSION 14

2.0 CONCLUSIONS 15

2.1 RECOMMENDATIONS 15

2.2 REFERENCE 16

2.3 APPENDIX 16

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ABSTRACT

This is the experiment for determine about the water properties from the sample that

we take from Tasik Seksyen 7, Shah Alam for our experiment. The experiment was

conducted to determine heavy metal metal that contain in water such as chlorine sulphate,

chromium, iron and phosphorus from the sample taken. The objective of this experiment to

determine whether the water sample that taken is reach the range of the dissolved heavymetal

in water when a certain volume is taken to be tested. From the result obtained, the quality of

water and safety can be determined. Chlorine, sulphate phosphorus, iron and chromiuwhich

exist in the sample of water are the pollutant that can be determine by using the Portable

Spectrophotometer. It also can be used to measure the wavelength and the mass of the

pollutant , according to the density shown by the apparatus. The heavy metal concentration

are determine by using it’s own type of chemical. For example, for the chlorine total ( mg/L

chlorine), phosphorus reactive ( mg/L phosphorus), iron (mg/L iron) and chromium

hexavalent ( mg/L chromium). The experiment is done completely and successfully.

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INTRODUCTION

In our daily life, heavy metals are required by the body in a small amount,but int can

cause toxic in larger doses. Heavy metals in the environment are caused by air emissions

from coal- burning plants, smelters and other industrial facilities; waste incinerators, process

wastes from mining from mining and industry; and lead in household plumbing and old house

paints. Industry is not totally to blameas heavy metal can sometimes enter the environment

through natural processes. For example, in deposits of heavy metals can dissolves info

groundwater, potentially resulting in unsafe levels of this in water supplies in the area. Once

released to the environment, metals can remain for decades and senturies, increasing the

likehood of human exposure. You are required to bring any water sample from any sources

that may contain heavy metals and proposed the suitable methods for the heavy metal testing.

The test reading must comply with the Malaysian suitable methods for heavy metal testing.

The test reading must comply with the Malaysian Standard of Water Quality.

From the source that taken from http://www.webpadb.net/politicies/state/

malaysiariver.htm. A total of 1064 water quality monitoring within 146 river basins were

monitored in Malaysia. From the research, out of these 1064 monitoring stations, 619 were

found to be clean, 359 were slightly polluted and 86 were polluted. Station located upstream

were generally clean from those downstream were euther slightly polluted and polluted. The

major pollutants were Biochemichal Oxygen Demand (BOD), Suspended Solid (SS) and

Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N). In 2006, 22 river basins were catogirized pollute by BOD,

42 river basin by SS and 41 river basin by NH3-N. High BOD was contributed largely by

untreated or partially treated seawage and discharges from agro-based and manufacturing

industries. The main sources of NH3-N were domestic seawage and livestock farming, whilst

the source for SS were mostly earthworks and land clearing activities. Analysis of heavy

metals in 5613 water samples revealed that almost all samples complied with Class III,

National Water Quality Standards for arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), chromium

(Cr), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) except iron (Pb) with 83% compliance.The statement shows the

reality of water qulity for the time like today. Here most of it is contaminated by heavy

metals, like lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and chlorine (Cl). The exposure and

existence of these heavy metals are main threat to human health and it’s been studied

extensively.

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Human had used heavy metal for thousand year and although several adverse health

effect upon exposure of these hazardous metals are being informed to public awareness. The

situation nevertheless is harmful. On the contrary, roadways and automobiles are now

considered as large possible sources for such hazardous heavymetal. Zinc, copper and lead

are the most common heavy metal which by chance are release from road travels, which

accounts for at least 90% of the total metals in road runoff. As a matter of fact, heavy metals

can be very harmful to one’s health if a drinking water containing such deadly metals is

consumed. The adverse circumstances include disturbance in growth and development,

trigerring cancer, organ damage, nervous system damage and in extreme cases causing fatal.

Research shows that youngster are more susceptible to be affected to the toxicity of the heavy

metals, as the rapidly developing body systems in foetus, infants and young children are far

more sensitive than the adults. The effects include lerning difficulties memory impairment,

damage to the nervous system, and behavioural problems such as hyperactivity and

aggressiveness. Irreversible brain damage results from overdose of the metals .

Therefore, human sre needed to be highly aware with the harmful effects from the

water containing heavy metals could bring to one’s health. Heavy metal pollution is a quickly

growing problems for our oceans, lakes and rivers. It might be not biggest pollution problem

right now, but letting it goes away or to let it solve itself is not going to help the condition of

this problem. We need to be aware of the problems heavy metal creates, so we all, in our own

little ways, can contributes to the solutions. Heavy metal pollution is a threat to human health,

animals, plants, and planet itself., and its mainly caused by industrialization and its

consequences.

 

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AIMS

The experiment is conducted mainly is to determine the dissolved heavy metals in the

water samples that we had taken from Tasik Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, Selangor. The heavy

metal that is experimented which is chlorine free, chlorine total, iron total, phosphorus

reactive ( orthophosphate) and sulphate.

THEORY

There so many water had been pollute can be found. Even in cities or countries that

claim to have healthy water supplies, still has the cases about polluted water because the local

water may contain bacteria that our body is not used to. By drinking unsafe water sources cab

spread serious diseases, such as potential water borne illnesses like Hepatitis A, Typhoid

Fever and schistosomiasis. Most of these diseases have different type of systems, but they all

result in abdominalpain, cramping and diarrhoea. Like Unitted State of America are one of

the countries that a operates numerous heavy metal industrial factories and have records of

polluted environment, which explains lots of news and report stating that most tap and well

water in that country is not safe for drinking purpose recently.

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The heavy metals penetrate and pollute our natural water sources a long with toxic

bacteria and other chemicals, making people sick as well as causing long term health

consequences suaha s liver damage, canv\cer and other serious health problems. It is even

believes that almost all of our sources of water including municipal water system, wells,

lakes, rivers and even glacier contain some level of contamination even some brands of

bottled water have been found to be polluted and harmful in addition plastic chemical

leaching from the bottle.

As chlorine for the example. Chlorine is ussaually added to the water to deactivate

and destroy disease-causing microorganisms and is the most widely used as disinfectant in

the United State. It can react with naturally occurring organic compounds found in water

supply, which in turns produce hazardous compounds, known as disinfection by-produucts

(DBPs). Trihalomethanes (THMs) and halogatics are common DBPs. It is undeniably

potentially carcinogenic especially to organs such as kidney and liver. Due to this, federal

regulations in the United States of America require regular monitoring of the concentrations

of these compound in the distribution systems of municipal water systems. Nevertheless, the

WHO states that the risks to health from dbps are extremely small in comparison with

adequate disinfection. The Secondary Drinking Water regulations recommend a maximum

concentration of 250 mg/L for sulphate ions (SO42-).

Sulphate is in fact occurs in almost all natural waters. Sulphate is indeed one of the

major dissolved constituents in rainwater. High concentration of sulphate in drinking water

cause a laxative effect when combined with magnesium and calcium. Bacteria in fact attacks

and reduces sulfates causes the formation of hydrogen sulphide as (H2S). Phosphorus occurs

naturally in rocks and other mineraldepositss. Technically, the rocks release the phosphorus

as phosphate ions which are soluble in water and the mineralize phosphate compouds

breakdown. Phosphates (PO-43) are formed from this element. Phosphate occurs in living

and decaying plants and animals as free ions weakly chemically bounded in aqeous to

sediments and soils, or as mineralize compound in soils, rocks and sendiments. The

phosphorus is often scarce in the well- oxygenated waters and low levels of phosphorus

results in the limitation of production of fresh water systems. Phosphate are generally not

toxic to human and animal unless they are present in high levels of concentration. Phosphorus

pollution accelerates a process called eutrophication, which is essentially the process of a

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lake’s biological deattg due to deoleted bioavailable oxygen. (source from

http://www.seconline.org/phosphorus/background.html). The build up of phosphate in the

lake water or any surface water ecosystem leads to over production of lake or water body

which results in the imbalance in the nutrient and material cycling process. There will be

massive production of phytoplankton and therefore cause variety of problems ranging from

axonic water to toxic algal bloom as well as decrease in diversity, food supply and destroying

the habitats. Excessive growth of algal due to phosphorus pollution increase water treatmenr

costs, degrades fishing and boating activities as well as impacts tourism and property values.

The maximum contaminant level (MCLs) of iron is 0.3mg/L iron ingestion is not generally

unhealthty and absolute necessary in small amounts. However, research ha sfound that

exposure to high level of iron can lead to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Iron os often

included in supplement and enriched products. It is also contains in red meat, therefore easily

to be consumed.

APPARATUS / MATERIALS

Apparatus

- Pour- thru Cell

- Portable Spectrophotometer DR2400

- 250 ml Enlenmeyer flask

- Clippers

- 25 ml graduated cylinder

Reagent

- Sample water

- DPD total Chlorine powder pillow

- DPD Free Chlorine powder Pillow

- Ferro Ver Iron Reagent Powder Pillow

- Phos Ver 3 Phosphate Powder Pillow

- Sulfa Ver 4 Sulfate Reagent Powder Pilllow

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PROCEDURE

Sample 1 : Chlorine, Total by using DPD Method

1. Hach Program touched, 80 Chlor.F & T program selected and Start button touched.

2. 10 ml of sample was filled a round sample cell.

3. The content of one DPD Total Chlorine Powder Pillow added to the sample cell (the

prepared sample). The sample cell for 20 seconds swirled to mix.

4. The timer icon was touché. Button OK touched. A three minute reaction period begin. Step

5 and 6 performed during this time period.

5. Another round sample cell with 10-mL of sample filled. (This was the blank). The sample

cell wiped and placed into the cell holder.

6. Zero touched and 0.00 mg/L Cl2 showed at display.

7. Within three minutes after the time beep, the prepared sample wiped and placed into the

cell holder.

8. Read touched. Result appear in mg/L Cl2.

Sample 2 : Clorine, Free by using DPD method

1. Hach Program touched, 80 Chlor.F & T program selected and Start button touched.

2. 10 ml of sample was filled a round sample cell ( the blank).

3. The blank wiped and Placed into the cell holder.

4. Zero touched and 0.00 mg/L Cl2 showed at display.

5. 10 ml of sample filled a second round.

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6. The content of one DPD Free Chlorine Powder Pillow added to the sample cell (the

prepared sample). The sample cell for 20 seconds swirled to mix. Step 7 was proceeded

immediately.

7. Within 1 minute of adding the reagent, the prepared sample was placed into the cell

holder.

8. Read toched. Result apper in mg/L Cl2.

Sample 3 : Sulfate by using SulfaVer 4 Method

1. Hach Program touched, 680 Sulfate program selected and Start button touched.

2. 10 ml of sample was filled a sample cell cleanly.

3. The content of one SulfaVer4 Reagent Powder Pillow added to the sample cell.. (the

prepared sample). Swirled to mix.

4. The timer icon was touché. Button OK touched. A five minute reaction period begin. Do

not disturb the cell during this time.

5. A second sample cell (the blank) with 10-mL of sample filled.

6. When the timer beeps, the blank placed into the cell holder.

7. Zero touched, 0.00 mg/L SO42- showed at the display.

8. Within five minutes after the time beeps, the prepared sample placed into the cell holder.

Read touched. Result appear in mg/L SO42-.

9. The sample cells cleaned with soap and a brush.

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Experiment D : Phosphorus, Reactive (Orthophosphate) by using PhosVer 3 ( Ascorbic Acid)

Method

1. Hach Program touched, 490 P React, PV program selected and Start button touched.

2. 10 ml of sample was filled a round sample cell.

3. The content of one PhosVer 3 phosphate Powder Pillow added to the cell. Immediately cap

and inverted to mix. (the prepared sample).

4. The timer icon was touché. Button OK touched. A two minute reaction period begin. If the

sample was digested using the Acid Persulfate digestion, a ten minute reaction period is

required.

5. Another sample cell (the blank) with 10-mL of sample filled.

6. When the timer beeps, the blank wiped and placed into the cell holder.

7. Zero touched, 0.00 mg/L PO43- showed at the display.

8. The prepared sample wiped and placed into the cell holder. Read touched. Result appear in

mg/L PO43-.

Sample 5: Iron, Total by using Ferro Ver Mehod

1. Hach Program touched, 265 Iron, Ferro Ver program selected and Start button

touched.

2. Fill a clean, 10 ml of sample was filled a round sample cell.

3. The content of one Ferro Ver Iron Reagent Powder Pillow added to the sample cell (the

prepared sample). The sample cell swirled to mix.

4. The timer icon was touché. Button OK touched. A three minute reaction period begin.

( Sample that contain rust should react for at least 5 minutes.

5. Another sample cell (the blank) with 10-mL of sample filled.

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6. When the timer beeps, the blank placed into the cell holder.

7. Zero touched, 0.00 mg/L Fe showed at the display.

8. The prepared sample placed into the cell holder. Read touched. Result appear in mg/L Fe.

RESULT

Substance Reagent Observation Range (mg/L) Result

Chlorine, total DPD total

chlorine

powder pillow

Colourless

Bubbles

0.02 - 2.00 0.42 mg/L Cl2

Chlorine,free DPD free

Chlorine

powder pillow

Colourless

Bubbles

0.02 - 2.00 0.13 mg/L Cl2

Sulfate Sulfa ver 4

reagent powder

pillow

Slightly cloudy

solution is

formed

Colourless

2.00 - 70.0 9.00 mg/L SO42-

Phosphorus

reactive

Phos ver 3

phosphate

powder pillow

Pale blue

solution is

formed

0.02 - 2.50 0.88 mg/L PO43-

Iron Ferro ver Iron Light orange 0.02 - 3.00 0.086 mg/L Fe

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reagent powder

pillow

solution is

formed

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Sample 1 - Chlorine, Total (Cl2)

The concentration of Chlorine (Cl2) = 0.42 mg/L

The volume of a sample = 10 ml/1000 = 0.01 L

The mass of Chlorine (Cl2) = 0.42 mg/L x 0.01 L

= 4.2 x 10-3 mg

Sample 2 - Chlorine Free (Cl2)

The concentration of Chlorine Free (Cl2) = 0.13 mg/L

The volume of a sample = 10 ml/1000 = 0.01 L

The mass of Chlorine Free (Cl2) = 0.13 mg/L x 0.01 L

= 1.3 x 10-3 mg

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Sample 3 - Sulfate (SO42-)

The concentration of Sulfate (SO42-) = 9.00 mg/L

The volume of a sample = 10 ml/1000 = 0.01 L

The mass of Sulfate (SO42-) = 9.00 mg/L x 0.01 L

= 0.09 mg

Sample 4 - Phosphorus, Reactive

The concentration of Phosphorus, Reactive = 0.88 mg/L

The volume of a sample = 10 ml/1000 = 0.01 L

The mass of Phosphorus, Reactive = 0.88 mg/L x 0.01 L

= 8.8 x 10-3 mg

Sample 5 - Iron Total (Fe)

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The concentration of Fe = 0.086 mg/L

The volume of a sample = 10 ml/1000 = 0.01 L

The mass of Fe = 0.086 mg/L x 0.01 L

= 0.0086 x 10-3 mg

DISCUSSION

Based on the results and data collected, there are few errors that might have been done.

This errors causes data collected distinct from theoretical data.

First, the reading for each sample is taken only once. An average value cannot be

obtained due to lack of instrument and long time consuming the experiment. This factors

evade from taking at least two readings for each sample, therefore the accuracy and precision

of the result cannot be obtained.

Second, the handling method of the round water sample may not done perfectly. This

cause the readings inaccurate. Any fingerprints or smudge imprinted on the outer surface of

the round water sample san become an unfavourably interference for the solutions to absorb

wavelengths of light in the spectrophotometer. Thus, the reading of concentration by the

instruments may not be accurate.

Samples are supposedly be immediately inserted into the spectrophotometer after being

poured in their corresponding reagents. Thus, any careless procedures may lead to inaccuracy

of the readings taken.

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CONCLUSION

The concentration of chlorine total in the water sample is 0.42 mg/L Cl2, Chlorine free is

0.13 mg/L Cl2, Sulfate is 9 mg/L SO42-, phosphorus reactive is 0.88 mg/L PO4

3-, and iron is

0.086 mg/L Fe. Based on the following data, the water sample is mostly concentrated with

sulfate and contains no chromium hexavalent due to the colourless solution formed,

indicating no change or reaction occurs to detect any presence of chromium in the water

sample. However, the readings and observation for phosphorus reactive and iron shows that

the samples requires extensive water treatment, as it might worriedly brings any health effects

to both humans and aquatic ecosystems.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Firstly, the sample must be analyzed immediately after collection and cannot be kept for

later analysis. This is because the heavy metals content of the water sample might differ from

the time it is collected until it is analyzed.

Next, the outside surface of the round water sample is recommend to wiped first before

inserted to the spectrophotometer. This is to ensure that there are no fingerprints on it which

might interfere the reading analysis.

In addition, the collection of the water sample is preferentially near the middle of the

water stream and at least at one arm's length of depth. So that most heavy metal are bounded

at inner depth at any water streams.

REFERENCES

1. http://www.water-research.net/glossary.htm

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2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexavalent_Chromium

3. http://www.healthy-water-best-tittlers.com/heavy-metals-within-water-

hevymetals.htm

4. http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/chromium/chromium-and-water.htm

5. http://en.wikiedia.org/wiki/Chlorination

6. Sawyer, C. N., McCarty, P. L., and Parkin, G. F.(2003) Chemistry for Environmental

Engineering, 5th ed., McGraw Hill.

7. Beran , J. A (2010) Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry. 9th ed.

John Wiley and Sons, INC.

8. Lide, D. R. (Ed.) (1990). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (70th Edn.). Boca

Raton (FL):CRC Press.

9. APHA. 1992. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 18 th ed.

American Public Health Aassociation, Washington, DC.

10. Water Quality Criteria,(1972) Environmental Studies Board, National Academy of

Sciences, http://www.h2ou.com/h2wtrqual.htm.

APPENDIX

DPD Free Chlorine Powder Pillow DPD Total Chlorine Powder Pillow

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Ferro Ver Iron Reagent Pillow Powder PhosVer 3 phosphate Powder Pillow

SulfaVer 4 Reagent Powder Pillow