Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

In this study, the concentration of heavy metal contaminants in the coal samples from selected coal mining sites in Okobo, Odagbo, Ofugo and Opoko-Obido, within Kogi State, Nigeria were identified and determined using the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Technique. Four samples were collecte...

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Main Authors: Felix O Uloko, John C Agomuo, Matthew N Agu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Department of Physics, Kaduna State University, Nigeria 2024-12-01
Series:Physics Access
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Online Access:https://physicsaccess.com/articles/published/PA-JPET-Vol%204-Issue%202_196.pdf
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author Felix O Uloko
John C Agomuo
Matthew N Agu
author_facet Felix O Uloko
John C Agomuo
Matthew N Agu
author_sort Felix O Uloko
collection DOAJ
description In this study, the concentration of heavy metal contaminants in the coal samples from selected coal mining sites in Okobo, Odagbo, Ofugo and Opoko-Obido, within Kogi State, Nigeria were identified and determined using the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Technique. Four samples were collected from the mining sites at 0 – 5 cm, and 5 – 10 cm below the soil surface. The range of the concentrations of heavy metal in the samples are V (6.03 ± 0.66 to 18.40 ± 1.10), Mn (6.06 ± 1.17 to 273 ± 2), As (0.18 ± 0.02 to 0.33 ± 0.04), U (0.57 ± 0.05 to 0.74 ± 0.05), Cr (7.14 ± 1.62 to 16.60 ± 1.80), Co (1.49 ± 0.16 to 9.10 ± 0.33), Sr (312 ± 71 to 383 ± 107), Sb (0 to 0.17 ± 0.05), Ba (0 to 174 ± 19) and Th (1.30± 0.09 to 2.39 ± 0.11). These values of Mn, Sr and Sb are slightly higher than the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency permissible limits of 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 3.0 mg/kg respectively. The study revealed that the coal from the mines was contaminated with heavy metals especially Sr, Ba, and Ti thereby posing stern environmental and health concerns.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Department of Physics, Kaduna State University, Nigeria
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spelling doaj-art-832b5a35bb29484eb95c835247457df42024-12-18T16:30:38ZengDepartment of Physics, Kaduna State University, NigeriaPhysics Access2714-500X2756-38982024-12-014213914510.47514/phyaccess.2024.4.2.016Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Felix O Uloko0John C Agomuo1Matthew N Agu2 Department of Physics, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, NigeriaDepartment of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Kaduna State, NigeriaDepartment of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Kaduna State, NigeriaIn this study, the concentration of heavy metal contaminants in the coal samples from selected coal mining sites in Okobo, Odagbo, Ofugo and Opoko-Obido, within Kogi State, Nigeria were identified and determined using the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Technique. Four samples were collected from the mining sites at 0 – 5 cm, and 5 – 10 cm below the soil surface. The range of the concentrations of heavy metal in the samples are V (6.03 ± 0.66 to 18.40 ± 1.10), Mn (6.06 ± 1.17 to 273 ± 2), As (0.18 ± 0.02 to 0.33 ± 0.04), U (0.57 ± 0.05 to 0.74 ± 0.05), Cr (7.14 ± 1.62 to 16.60 ± 1.80), Co (1.49 ± 0.16 to 9.10 ± 0.33), Sr (312 ± 71 to 383 ± 107), Sb (0 to 0.17 ± 0.05), Ba (0 to 174 ± 19) and Th (1.30± 0.09 to 2.39 ± 0.11). These values of Mn, Sr and Sb are slightly higher than the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency permissible limits of 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 3.0 mg/kg respectively. The study revealed that the coal from the mines was contaminated with heavy metals especially Sr, Ba, and Ti thereby posing stern environmental and health concerns.https://physicsaccess.com/articles/published/PA-JPET-Vol%204-Issue%202_196.pdfcoalheavy metalsneutron activation analysis
spellingShingle Felix O Uloko
John C Agomuo
Matthew N Agu
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
Physics Access
coal
heavy metals
neutron activation analysis
title Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
title_full Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
title_fullStr Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
title_short Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Coal Deposits in Kogi State, Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
title_sort assessment of heavy metal contamination of coal deposits in kogi state nigeria using instrumental neutron activation analysis
topic coal
heavy metals
neutron activation analysis
url https://physicsaccess.com/articles/published/PA-JPET-Vol%204-Issue%202_196.pdf
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AT johncagomuo assessmentofheavymetalcontaminationofcoaldepositsinkogistatenigeriausinginstrumentalneutronactivationanalysis
AT matthewnagu assessmentofheavymetalcontaminationofcoaldepositsinkogistatenigeriausinginstrumentalneutronactivationanalysis