Assessing the Effectiveness of Microelement Removal in the South Tertiary Wastewater Plant, Riyadh KSA
Leda G. Bousiakou1,2 * , Rabia Qinde2 , A.S. Almuzaini3 , Hosham A. Alghamdi4 , Walid Tawfik2,5 , WA Farooq2 , H. Kalkani6 and E. Manzou7
1
Department of Automation Engineering,
Piraeus University of Applied Science,
Petrou Ralli and Thevon 250,
12241
Athens Greece
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy,
King Saud University,
Riyadh,
11459
Saudi Arabia
3
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
IT Services Department,
Sevastoupoleos 50,
Athens Greece
4
National Water Company,
Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia
5
National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences,
Cairo University,
Cairo,
Egypt
6
Department of Medical Laboratories,
Technological Institute of Athens,
Agiou Spiridonos 28,
12243
Athens Greece
7
Intermedical Diagnosis Laboratories,
E. Venizelou and Perikleous 1,
12241
Athens Greece
http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.10.3.07
This work focuses on the monitoring of trace element removal from the Riyadh South Tertiary Wastewater Treatment plant using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Considering that the final effluent originating from the plant is directed for irrigation purposes towards the farms of Al- Dirayia, Dirab and Wadi Hanifa it is important to consider the possible presence of elevated microelement concentrations that could pose potential threats to the human health. All samples were collected from the initial entrance to the plant representing the raw influent as well as the final exit after chlorination, i.e. the final effluent used for irrigation purposes. Results showed that the concentration of aluminium (Al), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) were initially elevated at their entrance to the plant compared to the recommended values by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), while zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), uranium ( U), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) were within permissible levels. All microelements showed significant reduction of concentration with values well below the maximum recommendations. The observed results are important for assessing the functions and effectiveness of the treatment methods of the plant as well as ensuring that the final effluent is appropriate for agricultural use.
Copy the following to cite this article:
Bousiakou L. G, Qindeel R, Almuzaini A. S, Alghamdi H. A, Tawfik W, Farooq W. A, Kalkani H., Manzou E. Assessing the Effectiveness of Microelement Removal in the South Tertiary Wastewater Plant, Riyadh KSA. Curr World Environ 2018;10(3). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.10.3.07
Copy the following to cite this URL:
Bousiakou L. G, Qindeel R, Almuzaini A. S, Alghamdi H. A, Tawfik W, Farooq W. A, Kalkani H., Manzou E. Assessing the Effectiveness of Microelement Removal in the South Tertiary Wastewater Plant, Riyadh KSA. Curr World Environ 2018;10(3). Available from: http://www.cwejournal.org?p=838/
