Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar University (QU)’s Central Laboratories Unit (CLU) is leading an innovative research project on using natural materials to remove heavy and rare metal contamination from wastewater produced by chemical laboratories. The study, spearheaded by Dr. Noora Al-Qahtani, acting head of CLU, involves a collaborative effort with postgraduate and undergraduate students specialising in Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Chemical Engineering majors, and students from Omar bin Abdul Aziz Secondary School for Boys.
The rapid development of chemical analysis equipment has resulted in pollutants potentially leaking into the environment, posing significant risks. Although chemical laboratories generate relatively small amounts of waste compared to other industries, the release of heavy metals into drinking water and food sources remains a critical concern. This accumulation of heavy and rare elements poses a dangerous environmental threat, impacting fish and vegetables, which are key components of the human diet.
Addressing the challenge of wastewater treatment from analytical activities, particularly atomic spectroscopy laboratories, is a top priority for scientists and health departments. Effective techniques for safely and acceptably separating heavy and trace elements are crucial to preventing their release into the environment.
The study highlights the role of disposal methods and site characteristics in the migration of heavy and rare metals through terrestrial environments. Atomic spectroscopy laboratories, which use devices such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES), microwave digestion systems (MDS), and laser ablation systems (LAS), generate significant quantities of liquid waste containing these elements.
This pioneering study focuses on using natural, cost-effective, and sustainable absorbents, such as humic substances and natural clays, for treating heavy metals. Humic substances, which naturally occur in agricultural soil and riverbeds, are effective compound agents for a wide range of metals. Researchers are testing humic acid, fulvic acid, and humins for their potential in metal removal, particularly when combined with nanomaterials or subjected to thermal treatment.
The research, conducted at CLU under the Research and Graduate Studies Sector at QU in collaboration with Omar bin Abdul Aziz Secondary School for Boys, aims to assess the efficiency of humic acid and natural clay in removing pollutants from solutions containing heavy and rare elements. The study also involves training pre-university students in scientific research methods and integrating them into Qatar University’s research system.
The key objectives of this study are to: separate, purify, and classify humic acid from agricultural manure; prepare humic acid-metal complexes for heavy metal ions from wastewater; study humic acid-mineral compounds using laboratory wastewater solutions; conduct a comparative analysis of humic acid and natural clay absorption for heavy and rare metals; and develop a preliminary filter design incorporating humic acid and natural clay.
The research hypothesis posits that humic and clay materials, known for their compound properties with heavy metals, can effectively treat metal contamination. The study’s goals are to evaluate the feasibility of using natural organic polymers for removing heavy metals from wastewater in chemical laboratories.
The research team, including students from various disciplines at Qatar University, collected wastewater samples from atomic spectroscopy laboratories. These samples were analysed for their physical and chemical properties using advanced techniques available at the university. The practical phase involved treating the wastewater with natural absorbents and optimising conditions to enhance absorption efficiency.
