ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS IN WATER SEDIMENTS OF

INDONESIA CONTINENT
 CHAPTER1

INTRODUCTION

Human activities release heavy-metal waste into the environment in many different

forms, including the effluents of industrial activity, transportation exhaust, municipal sewage,

landfills, mining waste, and electroplating. Heavy metals are harmful to the environment and

cause a range of public health problems. Eliminating the heavy-metal content from water is

important because these elements are not biodegradable and tend to accumulate in living

organisms (bioaccumulation), thereby inducing various diseases and lethal disorders (Masindi

& Muedi, 2018). Some heavy-metal elements, like Hg, Pb, and Cr, are extremely toxic to

living organisms. Others, like Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Co, even though essential for life,

when present in amounts that exceed certain limits, can be very harmful (Inglezakis et al.,

2003; El-Bahy & El-Bahy, 2016; Badillo-Almaraz et al., 2003).

There are some of the technologies commonly used to handle the heavy-metal waste

dissolved in water, including chemical precipitation, evaporation, ion exchange,

electrochemical treatment, membrane technology, and biological treatment (Masindi &

Muedi, 2018; Barakat, 2011). However, these technologies faced many problems as their

needs of large-scale application, address high-solute pollutant concentrations and the disposal

of their byproducts. The biological treatment as an example, its application faced challenges

in terms of expensiveness, in-situ treatment failure, its limitation among several heavy

metals, and the need for biological agent disposal. Moreover, the adsorption technology, by

contrast, has been applied to deal with inorganic and organic waste and has several

significant advantages, including its low cost and being easy to apply, efficient, and effective

in comparison to other technologies. The adsorption process involves the presence of a

material that acts as an adsorbent of pollutant molecules either through the formation of

chemical bonds or via interactions between molecules.

 Water is one of the essentials that supports all forms of plant and animal life (Vanloon

and Duffy, 2005) and it is generally obtained from two principal natural sources; Surface

water such as fresh water lakes, rivers, streams, etc. and Ground water such as borehole water

and well water (McM urry and Fay, 2004; Mendie, 2005). Water has unique chemical

properties due to its polarity and hydrogen bonds which means it is able to dissolve, absorb,

adsorb or suspend many different compounds (WHO, 2007), thus, in nature, water is not pure

as it acquires contaminants from its surrounding and those arising from humans and animals

as well as other biolog ical activities (M endie, 2005).

One of the most important environmental issues today is ground water contamination

(Vodela et al., 1997) and between the wide diversity of contaminants affecting water

resources, heavy m etals receive particular con cern considering their strong toxicity even at

low concentrations (Marcovecchio et al., 2007). Heavy metals are elem ents having atomic

we ights between 63.546 and 200.590 and a specific gravity greater than 4.0 i.e. at least 5

times that of water. They exist in water in colloidal, particulate and dissolved phases

(Adepoju-Be llo et al., 2009) with their occurrence in water bodies being either of natural

origin (e.g. eroded minerals within sediments, leaching of ore deposits and volcanism

extruded products) or of anthropogenic origin (i.e. solid w aste disposa l, industrial or

domestic effluents, harbour channel dredging) (Marcovecchio et al., 2007). Some of the

metals are essential to sustain life-calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium must be

present for normal body functions. Also, cobolt, copper, iron, manganese, moly bdenon and

zinc are need ed at low levels as catalyst for enzyme activities (Adepoju-Bello et al., 2009),

however, excess exposure to heavy metals can result in toxicity.

Heavy metal can cause serious health effects with varied symptoms depending on the

nature and quantity of the metal ingested (Adepoju-Bello and Alabi, 2005). They
 produce their toxicity by formin g com plexe s with proteins, in which carboxylic acid

(–COO H), amine (–NH2 ), and thiol (–SH) groups are involved. These modified biological

molecules lose their ability to function properly and result in the malfunction or death of the

cells. When metals bind to these groups, they inactivate important enzyme systems or affect

protein structure, which is linked to the catalytic properties of enzymes. This type of toxin

may also cause the formation of radicals which are dangerous chemicals that cause the

oxidation of biological molecules.

The most common heavy metals that humans are exposed to are Aluminium, Arsenic,

Cadmium, Lead and Mercury. Aluminium has been associated with Alzheimer’s and

Parkinson’s disease, senility and pre-senile dementia. Arsenic exposure can cause among

other illness or symptoms cancer, abdom inal pain and skin lesions. Cadmium exposure

produces kidney damage and hypertension. Lead is a commutative poison and a possible

human carcinogen (Bakare-Odunola, 2005) while for Mercury , toxicity results in mental

disturbane and impairment of speech, hearing, vision and movement (Hammer and Hammer

Jr., 2004). In addition, Lead and Mercury may cause the deve lopm ent of autoimmun ity in

which a person’s immune system attacks its own cells. This can lead to joint diseases and

ailment of the kidneys, circulatory system and neurons. At higher concentrations, Lead and

Mercury can cause irreversible brain damage.

Identification of Problem

In this research the author of this research aims to investigate:

1. The impact of water and soil contamination from heavy metals around human

environment.

2. The problem faced by environment by having heavy metals on the top layer soil.

Limitation of the study

 1. The impact of water and soil contamination from heavy metals around human

environment.

2. The problem faced by environment by having heavy metals on the top layer soil.

Research Purpose

1. The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of heavy metals Cu, Co, and V

found in sediments

2. Solving the problem faced by environment by having heavy metals on the top layer

soil

Research Objectives

1. The study aims to analyze the content of heavy metals Cu, Co, and V found in

sediments

2. Solving the problem faced by environment by having heavy metals on the top layer

soil

Benefits of research

This study is expected to provide information on the concentration of heavy metals Cu, Co,

and V in sediments in the waters and can provide information about the application of the

problem faced by community

 CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

Water Pollution

In general, marine pollution that occurs physically, chemically or biologically, will

have a bad or toxic impact on marine biota and humans (Marsolai, 2004). Rapid development

in the economic field on the one hand will improve the quality of human life and on the other

hand will result in a decrease in environmental quality due to pollution (Mu'nisa, 2010).

Pollution can be caused by two things, namely, the disposal of certain chemical compounds

which is increasing, especially due to industrial activities and the use of various bioxide

products and hazardous materials due to human activities (Achmad, 2004).

The sea is the estuary of rivers, both large rivers and small rivers, which causes the

sea to become a gathering place for pollutants carried by rivers. Heavy metal waste is the

most dangerous waste in the sea because it has a toxic effect on humans (Setiawan, 2013).

Heavy metal pollution that enters the river water environment will be dissolved in the water

and will accumulate in the sediment and can increase over time, depending on the

environmental conditions of the waters (Fitriyah et al., 2013; Setiawan, 2013).

Sedimentation

Sedimentation is the process of carrying material or fragments of rocks, minerals and

organic materials from erosion or weathering by air, wind, ice and water (Pangestu, 2013).

Sedimentation is a process of transporting sediment by a water runoff that is deposited in a

place where the speed of the water slows down or stops, such as in river channels, reservoirs,

lakes, and bay/seaside areas (Solihuddin, 2011). The main cause of sedimentation is erosion

caused by water which includes the process of release (detachment), drift (transportation) and

deposition (depotition) of soil particles that occur due to the collision of rainwater and water

flow (Pangestu, 2013).

 The process of sedimentation in the waters can cause siltation and decrease in water

quality. The large number of sediment particles carried by the river to the sea will be

deposited around the river mouth, so that it has the potential to disrupt shipping lanes and

cause flooding when the rainy season arrives. In addition, high concentrations of sediment in

water bodies will cause turbidity which not only endangers biota but also causes water to

become unproductive (Solihuddin, 2011).

Sedimentation Process

According to Mulyanto (2007), the sedimentation process is divided into two parts,

namely:

1. Geological sedimentation process

Geological sedimentation is a process of soil erosion that is still running normally,

where the deposition process that occurs is still within the permissible limits or in the natural

balance of the degradation and agradation process in the flattening of the earth's crust due to

weathering.

2. Accelerated sedimentation process

Accelerated sedimentation is a process that occurs due to deviations from geological

processes and takes place in a fast time, where this process is very destructive or detrimental

to the balance of nature or environmental sustainability.

Sediment Transport Process

According to Mulyanto (2007), the sediment transport process can be described as

covering three processes as follows:

1. Wash load or washing sediment consists of silt and dust particles that are carried

into the river and remain floating until they reach the sea, or other puddles. This type of

sediment is almost not affect the characteristics of the river even though the number is the
largest compared to other types, especially at the beginning of the rainy season. This

sediment comes from the weathering process of the Watershed (DAS), which mainly

occurred in the previous dry season.

2. Suspended load or suspended sediment mainly consists of fine sand that floats in

the stream because it is supported by the turbulence of the water flow. The influence of these

sediments on river properties is not that great. But if there is a change in flow velocity, this

type can change to a third type of transport. The driving force for this type of transport is the

turbulence of the flow and the velocity of the flow itself. In this case, it is known as pick-up

velocity. For a certain grain size when the picking speed is exceeded, the material will float.

On the other hand, if the velocity of the flow carrying it decreases below the velocity of the

pick up, the material will sink to the bottom of the stream.

3. Bed load, the third type of sediment transport is bottom transport in which material

with larger grain size will slide or translate, roll or rotate one on top of another on the

riverbed; its movement reaches a certain depth of the river bed. The driving force is the drag

force of the riverbed layer.

Heavy Metal

The term heavy metal is only intended for metals that have a specific gravity greater

than 5 g/cm3. But in fact, metalloid elements that have dangerous properties are also included

in this group. Thus, what is included in the criteria for heavy metals currently reaches 40

element type. Some examples of metals that are toxic to humans are arsenic (As), cadmium

(Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Metals come from the

earth's crust in the form of pure organic and inorganic materials. Naturally, the metal rotation

cycle is from the earth's crust to the soil layer, to living things, into the water, then settles and

finally returns to the earth's crust (Apriadi, 2005). Heavy metals are still included in the metal

group with the same criteria as other metals. The difference lies in the effect caused when the
metal enters the body of a living organism. Not all heavy metals can cause poisoning in living

things, but some of these heavy metals are still needed in very small amounts. If this very

small amount is not met, it can be fatal for the survival of the organism (Ahmad, 2009; Ika et

al., 2012; Setiawan, 2013).

Heavy metals are pollutants because they are stable and difficult to decompose. The

number of sources of heavy metals in nature causes heavy metal pollution in waters to

increase very rapidly which will accumulate in the food chain to marine biota. Marine biota

that has been polluted by heavy metals will experience growth disorders until death (Sandro

et al., 2013).

Many heavy metals, both toxic and essential, are dissolved in water and pollute both

fresh and sea water. Sources of this pollution mostly come from mining, ports, other types of

industry and can also come from agricultural land that uses fertilizers or anti-pests containing

metals (Darmono, 1995). Fitriyah et al., (2013), explained in their research that the presence

of heavy metals in the Surabaya river was caused by mining, household activities,

agricultural waste and industrial waste.

 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODS

3.1 Research Materials

The materials used in this study included sediment in the waters of Indonesia

continent, 0.1 M HNO3, 65% HNO3, 37% HCl, anhydrous Na2CO3 and aquabides, and pH

paper.

3.2 Research Tools

The tools used consist of glassware commonly used in laboratories, ICP-OES brand

Perkin Elmer-Optima 8000, hot plate, oven, furnace, porcelain crucible, spray flask,

analytical balance, sample bottle, Van Veeb Grab Sampler to take sediment samples.

3.3 Research Time and Location

Sediment sampling was carried out at several stations in the waters located in

continents on October 13, 2021. This research was carried out at the Sumber Chemistry

Laboratory and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of

Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University and Instrument Laboratory, Chemistry

Department, Mathematics and Natural Sciences University..

3.4 Working Method

3.4.1 Sediment Sampling

Samples were taken using the Van Veen Grap Sampler. Sediment samples were taken

at 4 different points as shown

3.4.2 Sediment Sample Preparation

The wet sediment sample was dried by placing it in an oven at a temperature of

100oC. The dried samples were ground until smooth using a porcelain crucible.
 3.4.3 Analysis of heavy metal content of Cu, Co and V using ICP-OES (Kasan et al.,

2015)

The sample is weighed as much as 1 gram and put into a porcelain crucible then

sprinkled with 2 grams of Na2CO3 and then put into a furnace at a temperature of 800 oC for

2 hours. After that, the crushed samples were added with aqua regia. Then let stand for ± 12

hours. Then transferred to a beaker, then heated until almost dry. After that,

The dissolved sample was added with distilled water as much as filtered. Furthermore,

the filtered filtrate is put into mL. Then squeezed with aquabides to the mark. using ICP-

OES.