Heavy Metal Contents in Tannery Wastewater

Abstract

Heavy metals are metals with high atomic weight which can be deposited in soil, water, plants and animals. Since heavy metals can be deposited in human body by means of food, water or contact, they can have negative effects on human health. In the ordinance of the European Commission dated 12^th June 2002, Pb, Cd, Cr (VI), As, Hg content and their compounds is completely prohibited in textile and leather products. Limit values are imposed for Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni and Zn concentrations in wastewaters as well. After the said ordinance, a more conscious and controlled manufacturing process has become obligatory for leather industrialists. In this study, amount of heavy metals such as cadmium, cobalt, chrome and lead which use are limited in many objects due to their toxicological characteristics have been identified in tannery wastewater. In the research, microwave digestion method used for wastewater samples and their overall heavy metal content have been primarily identified in ICP-OES. Results obtained have been compared to limit values presented for tannery wastewaters.