Water resources
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Irene A. Tarimo
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30 June 2025
185
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Assessment of Kaolinite as a Natural Remediation Agent for Lead (Pb) Contamination in Groundwater in Mirerani, Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56542/wi.jwempo.v2.i1.a7.2025
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Keywords:
Heavy Metal Lead (Pb) Adsorption, Groundwater pollution, Kaolin clay, natural remediation method.
Abstract
This study explores the efficacy of kaolinite as a natural remediation for lowering lead (Pb) concentrations in groundwater
resources in the Mirerani Manyara Region, Tanzania. The mining site exhibited a notably high mean Pb concentration of
0.025 mg/L, which exceeds the World Health Organization's guideline of 0.015 mg/L. In comparison, other regions, including agricultural (0.016 mg/L), residential (0.014 mg/L), and commercial (0.016 mg/L) areas, demonstrated lower Pb
levels, yet remained concerning due to their proximity to mining operations. Adsorption of lead ions by kaolinite is a key
natural mechanism for reducing Pb concentrations in water. The lead (Pb) levels initially ranged from 0.001 to 0.411
before the application of kaolinite, with a mean value of 0.019 and a standard deviation of 0.032. After the application of
kaolinite, lead levels decreased with significant p-value of 0.0001, readings ranging from 0.000 to 0.026. The mean
difference between initial and final Pb levels was 0.019 mg/L, with the removal efficiency (85%) /adsorption capacity of
0.385 mg/L at 95% confidence level with pH ranging from 4.4 to 8.9, with a stable decrease pH to 7. -and 80-minutes
contact time. These findings indicate that kaolinite is a natural promising, sustainable, and cost-effective approach for
treating Pb-contaminated groundwater. It offers insights into the application of natural remediation methods for Lead
heavy metal removal.
