ABSTRACT
Non-photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue from aqueous solution was carried out using CuO particles away from light in the presence of Humic acid. Humic Acid(HA) was purified and was used to modify the level of copper(ii)oxide by activating it to produce oh radicals.The effect of pH on the degradation of methylene blue was investigated. The results show that maximum degradation efficiency obtained was 95% under very acidic conditions.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances often chemicals or microorganisms contaminate a water body degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment. Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and ground water. Water pollution results when pollutants are introduced into the natural environment, for example releasing inadequately treated wastewater into natural water bodies can lead to degradation of aquatic ecosystems. In turn, this can lead to public health problems for people. Water pollution is the leading cause of death and disease, e,g. due to water-borne diseases(pink,daniel.h, 2006)
Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as the “Universal Solvent”, water is able to dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth, this is why water is easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into and mix with it, causing water pollution.
Sources of water pollution are either point sources and non-point sources. Point sources have one identifiable cause of pollution, such as a drain, wastewater treatment plant or stream. Non-point sources are more diffuse such as agricultural runoff(moss,brian, 2008). Pollution is the result of the cumulative effect over time. All plants and organisms living in or being exposed to polluted water bodies can be impacted. The effects can damage individual species and impact the natural biological communities they are part of.
The causes of water pollution include a wide range of chemicals and pathogens as well as physical parameters. Contaminants may also include organic and in organic substances.
Waste water from textile, paper and some other industrial processes are usually highly colored, toxic and carcinogenic. These colored compounds are not only aesthetically displeasing but also inhibiting sunlight penetration into the stream and affecting aquatic ecosystem. Dyes usually have complex aromatic molecular structures which make them more sable and difficult to biodegrade. Some dyes are reported to cause allergy, dermatis, skin irritation, cancer and mutations in humans.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF PROBLEM
Water pollution is a major global problem. It requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels. It has been suggested that water pollution is the leading cause of death worldwide. Water pollution accounted for the deaths of 1.8 million people in 2015 (kelland, kate,2017)
The organization of global oceanic environmental survey(OGOENS) consider water pollution as one of the main environmental problems that can present a danger for the existence of life on earth in the next decades. The organization proposes a number of measures for fixing the situation but should be taken in the next 10 years for being effective(dryden,howard, 2019)
In Nigeria, only 19% of the population has access to safe drinking water. Although 67% of people have basic water supply, access is uneven. in cities, 82% of people have basic supply. In rural areas only 54% do. The lack of accessible reliable and safe drinking water together with poor sanitation and hygiene, is estimated to cost Nigeria about 1.3 billion dollars in access time, loss due to premature death, productive time and health care costs.
Poor water quality affects people, the economy and the environment. Contaminated water is the primary cause of diseases such as typhoid fever, diarrhoea and dysentry in Nigeria. These diseases kill people and are very costly to the economy. In the Niger delta, contamination by oil exploration activities is a big worry. It has led to declining fish harvests and the loss of biodiversity.
1.1.2 SCOPE OF WORK
This paper addresses an oxidative remediation method to degrade methylene blue in water using CuO and the addition of purified humic acid. The effect of change in PH on the degradation of the methylene blue effluent under different concentrations was studied.
1.1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this research is to non-photo-catalyse methylene blue in aqueous solution with copper(ii)oxide in the presence of Humic acid. The effect of change in pH was studied.
