1. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 88-93 © IAEME
88
HEAVY METALS ASSESSMENT IN MUNCIPAL SOLID WASTE
DUMPSITE, MYSORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA
Kiran B.M, Srikantaswamy .S*
Department of Studies in Environmental Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri,
Mysore-570006
ABSTRACT
Unorganized segregation and unorganized dumping of solid waste is an important factor in
developing countries like India and causes adverse impacts on the environment .Materials such as
old batteries ,electronic goods ,painting waste etc., when dumped without the separation of
hazardous waste at source can increase toxic effects on environment . The present study is an attempt
to study the trace metal contents present in fine fraction of municipal solid waste collected from
different piles of Mysore city. Heavy metals concentration of these samples was compared with the
standards prescribed limits of Central Pollution Control Board for compost. The levels of heavy
metals were measured at two points with different distances and directions from dumpsite in Mysore.
The results indicated a steady decrease in the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr and Hg in the second
point.
Keywords: SEM, XRD, AAS, Mysore, Characterization, Composition, Solid waste.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Modern civilization is completely dependent on a large range of metals for all aspect of daily
life. There is a long history association between metals and human development. Heavy metal
pollution not only affects the production and quality of crops, but also influences the quality of the
atmosphere, water bodies, and threatens the health, life of animals and human being (Marzieh, 2010).
Heavy metals are environmentally problematic substances due to their high persistence and toxic
effects (Hellweg et al., 2001 and Esakku et al. 2003). Landfills accumulate large amounts of heavy
metals and therefore contribute greatly to this risk potential (Hellweg et al., 2001))
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the waste, which is most commonly used in composting. It
is an extremely heterogeneous material in its geometry, particle size and chemical composition
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2. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
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(Flyhammar, P. (1997)). It may, moreover, contain high concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn, as has
been shown by several studies (Flyhammar, P. (1998)) Consequently, subsequent application of
MSW composts rich in heavy metals to agricultural soils may cause heavy metals accumulation to
toxic levels (King, L.D et al.,(1990) : Veeken, A et al.,(2002) ). When the compost from MSW is
used as manure some heavy metals are being subject to bioaccumulation and may cause risk to
human health when transferred to the food chain. Exposure of heavy metals may cause blood and
bone disorders, kidney damage and decreased mental capacity and neurological damage. Therefore,
heavy metal needs serious attention before the application of compost made from MSW. In certain
cases the metal contents exceed the specified limits (Merian,1991). The occurrence of cadmium,
cobalt, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc in MSW compost was reported by Ciba et al., (1999).
Heavy metals caused serious problems to the human quantities directly affect the flora, fauna
as well as human and animal health by accumulation particularly in kidney population and liver.
Different kind of heavy metals have caused the heavy metals disorder in human body.
2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mysore is the second largest city in Karnataka after Bangalore .Mysore was the capital of
Mysore state until 1956, when the capital was shifted from Mysore to Bangalore. Mysore is spread
over an area of about 128 sq. km with the growing population at faster rate due to influx of many
service industry activities, the generation of municipal waste both garbage and sewage has been on
the rise .Anthropogenic activities in society generate large quantities of wastes posing a problem for
their disposal. Improper disposal leads to spreading of diseases and unhygienic condition besides
spoiling the aesthetics. The city has several major and small industries present in Nanjangud 20 Km
away from the Mysore city together with many educational and commercial establishments. In India,
every year 30.3 million tons of Municipal solid waste is generated .This equate to about 350 gms of
waste per person on average
Municipal solid waste samples were collected from Municipal solid waste composting site,
Vidyaranyapuram, Mysore. The study has been carried out in two parts that is pile A and pile B.
Municipal solid waste samples from windrow platform is considered as pile A. In pile B the final
material from the composting yard that is compost were taken. Samples were first dried at 105º C in
hot air oven, crushed well and sieved through 0.2 mm mesh. The powdered samples were then used
for further analysis and spectral characterization.
2.1 Heavy metal analysis
For estimation of Heavy metals Triacid mixture method was used. The sample were kept for
30min in hot plate and finally cooled to room temperature (Nitric acid: Sulphuric acid: Perchloric
acid in 9:2:1 ratio) extract of the compost sample was used for AAS.
2.2 X-Ray Diffraction method
It is a tool used for determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the
crystalline atoms cause a beam of X-rays to diffract into many specific directions. The overall
structural changes during the decomposition can be studied using X-Ray Diffraction method. By
measuring the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a
three-dimensional picture of the density of electrons within the crystal. From this electron density,
the mean positions of the atoms in the crystal can be determined, as well as their chemical bonds,
their disorder and various other information. Samples were ground to fine powder and spectra were
recorded on RIGAKU Miniflex-II XRD Instrument.

3. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
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2.3 Scanning Electron Microscope
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of electron microscope that produces images
of a sample by scanning it with a focused beam of electrons. The electrons interact with atoms in the
sample, producing various signals that can be detected and that contain information about the
sample's surface topography and composition. The electron beam is generally scanned in a raster
scan pattern, and the beam's position is combined with the detected signal to produce an image. Carl
Zeiss, EVO 15-15-41, version 5.05 instrument was used.
3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Heavy metals analysis
Various heavy metal concentrations for the composting samples from pile A and B are listed
in Table 1 and 2.
Table 3.1: The heavy metal concentrations for the samples from Pile A
Sample from pile A were rich in copper content compared to other heavy metals. Metals such
as Chromium and lead were found at lower concentrations whereas cadmium and mercury
concentration was found to be 0.001 mg/L.
Table 3.2: The heavy metal concentrations for the samples from Pile B
Heavy metal concentrations have been decreased in pile B due to of composting process
which is undergone for 30 days. This was due to release of metal ions from larger solid wastes
materials during the decomposition and further decrease was due to leaching of metal ions by water.
Sl.No. Heavy metals Concentration ( mg/L)
1 Cadmium 0.001
2 Copper 4.322
3 Lead 0.578
4 Chromium 0.769
5 Mercury 0.001
Sl.No. Heavy metals Concentration (mg/L)
1 Cadmium < 0.001
2 Copper 1.158
3 Lead 0.257
4 Chromium 0.315
5 Mercury <0.001

4. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976
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3.2 X-Ray Diffraction analysis
X-Ray diffraction spectra of composting samples from pile A and B shown
Each signal in XRD represents the plane of a crystal.
pile B compared to that of pile A. From the overall data obtained from the X
it is clear that particle size decreasing during the deg
Fig 3.2: XRD spectra of sample at pile A
3.3 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Fig 3.4: SEM image of sample at pile A
The collected material was taken under the SEM without any treatment. The SEM images are
shown as in above figure. Observing the SEM image of Fig
looks bit porous in nature. Also it is observed that the material looks more coiled and bit clustered on
the surface may due to the presence of high amount of organic materials along with inorganic and
heavy metals too that are found to be present
materials found to be cleared at the surface. This means due to decomposition of the
certain period, the material takes another form with the surface cleared with orga
along with leaching of the heavy metals,
by AAS spectroscopy results.
International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976
6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 88-93 © IAEME
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Ray diffraction spectra of composting samples from pile A and B shown in
Each signal in XRD represents the plane of a crystal. The number of peaks got reduced in sample at
From the overall data obtained from the X-Ray Diffraction spectra
it is clear that particle size decreasing during the degradation of solid waste.
: XRD spectra of sample at pile A Fig 3.3: XRD spectra of sample at pile
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Fig 3.4: SEM image of sample at pile A Fig 3.5: SEM image of sample at pile B
The collected material was taken under the SEM without any treatment. The SEM images are
Observing the SEM image of Fig 3.4, it can be seen that the material
looks bit porous in nature. Also it is observed that the material looks more coiled and bit clustered on
the surface may due to the presence of high amount of organic materials along with inorganic and
are found to be present. From fig 3.5, we can observe that
materials found to be cleared at the surface. This means due to decomposition of the
takes another form with the surface cleared with organic
metals, which is important to be noted that the result is
International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
© IAEME
in fig 3.2 and 3.3.
The number of peaks got reduced in sample at
Ray Diffraction spectra
3: XRD spectra of sample at pile B
Fig 3.5: SEM image of sample at pile B
The collected material was taken under the SEM without any treatment. The SEM images are
can be seen that the material
looks bit porous in nature. Also it is observed that the material looks more coiled and bit clustered on
the surface may due to the presence of high amount of organic materials along with inorganic and
we can observe that the coiling of
materials found to be cleared at the surface. This means due to decomposition of the material for
nic decomposition
result is supported

5. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET), ISSN 0976 –
6480(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6499(Online) Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 88-93 © IAEME
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CONCLUSION
Concentration of the heavy metals at the earlier stage of sample and further decrease in
concentration of heavy metals revealed that the decomposition of organic matter followed by the
formation of stable products in addition to variation in the different parameters were observed during
the degradation of municipal solid waste by aerobic composting. Degradation of complex molecules
into smaller constituents was confirmed by X-ray Diffraction studies. Decreased concentration of
heavy metals by the AAS analysis at pile B has been observed clearly. From the above study it is
clearly indicating the structural changes taken place during the composting phenomena.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
One of the authors, Mr.Kiran B.M is grateful to Professor R. Somashekar, DOS in Physics,
University of Mysore, co-ordinator IOE, University of Mysore, for providing Instruments to carry
out the XRD analysis, SEM analysis in their Lab.
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