Publication
Heavy metal levels in analytical laboratories waste: a study for the implementation of a programme for the control and disposal of waste from microbiology and chemical analysis laboratories
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dionísio, Lídia | |
| dc.contributor.author | Agyei, George | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2013-10-26T11:19:49Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2013-10-26T11:19:49Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2012 | |
| dc.description | Dissertação de mest., Qualidade em Análises, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univ. do Algarve, 2012 | por |
| dc.description.abstract | Analytical Laboratories daily routine analyses leads to the generation of solid and liquid waste. Quality assurance and quality control procedures are employed in most of these laboratories to ensure that accurate results are obtained and the waste generated out of these analyses are properly stored for collection by waste treatment companies. The cost associated with waste treatment varies with the type of waste generated. Liquid waste are quantified or priced according to the volume of waste. Microbiology waste are inactivated and added to solid waste for collection and treatment but residues from Chemical Analysis Laboratories cannot be emptied down the drainage systems since it can contain some levels of heavy metals which can be dangerous to the environment or human. Therefore the objective of this thesis was to characterize some of these important heavy metals so that they can be treated and discarded by the laboratory staff leading to reduction in payment for their treatment by external companies. The research involved the determination of total heavy metal (Pb, Cu Zn, Cr, Cd, Ni, Fe, As, Hg, Al) levels in Microbiology (M) and Chemical (C ) samples using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Flame technique was used for the analysis of Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cr, Ni and Al was analyzed with Furnace technique. However, hydride generation and cold vapour procedures were used for As and Hg respectively. The mean concentration of all the Heavy metals analyzed from the chemical (c) and microbiology (M) samples were all below the Guidelines for Maximum Admissible values for parameter in industrial water residuals with the exception of Fe, Al, As and Hg levels in the DRAAL and LAQ chemical samples which showed concentrations values of 5.0, 89.5, 5.93, 0.42 mg/L and 21.9, 19.0, 3.59, 0.11mg/L respectively, which were higher than the recommended levels of 2.0, 10, 0.5, 0.05mg/L respectively. The microbiological samples were cultured for microorganisms by employing the Incorporation Technique with PCA and PDA. No growth was recorded for both media after 24 and 48 hours of incubation. The results obtained could be used to implement the WC-D programme (Waste-Control and Disposal programme) for microbiological and chemical analysis laboratories of the University. | por |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/3100 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | por |
| dc.peerreviewed | yes | por |
| dc.subject | Heavy metal levels | por |
| dc.subject | Waste treatment | por |
| dc.subject | Analytical laboratories | por |
| dc.subject | Atomic absorption | por |
| dc.subject | Incorporation technique | por |
| dc.subject | Waste control and disposal | por |
| dc.title | Heavy metal levels in analytical laboratories waste: a study for the implementation of a programme for the control and disposal of waste from microbiology and chemical analysis laboratories | por |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| rcaap.rights | openAccess | por |
| rcaap.type | masterThesis | por |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Universidade do Algarve. Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia | por |
| thesis.degree.level | Mestre | por |
| thesis.degree.name | Mestrado em Qualidade em Análises | por |