THE EFFECT OF USING ZOLITE AND WHEAT STRAW IN TREATING WASTEWATER CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the laboratories of the Department of Soil Sciences and Water Resources / University of Basra. The experiment aims to demonstrate the effect of using zeolite and wheat straw in reducing concentrations of heavy metals(Pb, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu).Untreated wastewater was used from the wastewater collection station of the University of Basra in 2022. Chemical and physical analyses of the wastewater were conducted. The properties of zeolite and wheat straw were determined, as the results of the experiment showed that the size (less than 50 microns) was superior to zeolite and wheat straw. The weight (0.5 g) was superior to zeolite (1 g) for wheat straw, as well as the duration was superior (40 minutes) for zeolite and (20 minutes) for wheat straw, as it reduced all of them (sizes, weights, and periods) significantly reduce the concentrations of heavy metals (lead, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper) of wastewater.