Analysis of some heavy metals and physicochemical parameters of textile sludge sample in the Bahir Dar textile industry, Northern Amhara, Ethiopia

The present study was conducted to characterize the solid sludge from the Bahir Dar textile industry.The concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu and Mn) in the samples were found to be 37.433-50.967, ND, 244.8-279.9, 2868.633-2886.667, 4.567-7.83, 242.767-282.133 and 160.9-212.8 (mg/Kg) respectively. The range of the pH, EC (%), OM (%), OC (%), MC (%), VS (%) and FS (%) in the sludge samples were found to be in the ranges of 7.317-7.771, 1.466-1.872, 12.302-12.778, 7.136-7.412, 9.211-11.576, 44.598-47.778 and 52.222-55.402 respectively. The results of the heavy metals in the textile sludge sample showed that the concentration levels of Cu metal was above the standard guide lines for maximum limit proposed for agricultural soil set by FAO /WHO and in the case of other metals (Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cr), their concentration levels were found below the standard guide lines for maximum limit proposed for agriculture soil set by this organization, but the concentration levels of Cd was not detected in this present study. Finally, the study concluded that pre-treatment process for reducing the amount of some heavy metal is mandatory before the sludge can be used as a soil conditioner / fertilizer in the agricultural soil.