LEVELS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOME HEAVY METALS IN SOILS IN THE VICINITY OF A KAOLIN MILLING PLANT IN ALKALERI, BAUCHI STATE NIGERIA
A. O. ABDULLAHI *
Department of Chemistry, Gombe State University, P.M.B. 127 Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria
A. B. MOHAMMED
Department of Chemistry, Gombe State University, P.M.B. 127 Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria
K. M. KALU
Department of Chemistry, Gombe State University, P.M.B. 127 Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The distribution of heavy metals in the soil from the vicinity of the kaolin milling plant in Alkaleri, Bauchi State Nigeria was investigated. Soil samples were collected from the vicinity of the milling plant at 0.5 km, 1 km, and 1.5 km distances away north, south, east and west of the plant. Soil samples were digested using 1:5:1 mixture of hot Perchloric acid, Nitric acid and Sulphuric acid. Elemental analysis was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The elements determined show the mean concentrations of heavy metals in the range of Fe: 3.33 to 16.67 ppm, Pb: 0.11 to 1.06 ppm, Cd: 0.63 to 2.75 ppm, Zn: 0.42 - 6.37 ppm, Co: 0.25-3.00 ppm and Cr :0.06 to 0.99 ppm increasing as one tend farther away from the milling plant in the order Fe>Zn>Co>Cd>Pb>Cr.
Keywords: Heavy metals, milling plant, soil, kaolin, Alkaleri