Abstract

The study examined some physical and chemical characteristics of wastewater in an unmonitored mining community (Itagunmodi) in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. This study aims at investigating the ability of electrochemical treatment method to remove selected contaminants from the wastewater emanating from these gold mining sites, with a view to reclaiming this scarce resource for other uses without any toxic effect on man and animals. Wastewater samples were collected twice in a month from four main ponds in October (rainy season) and February (dry season) making a total of sixteen (16) wastewater samples. The wastewaters collected were characterized (turbidity, solids, chloride, pH) using standard procedures; subjected to electrochemical treatment at laboratory scales and effects of selected factors (operating time, stirring speed, contact area to volume ratio and pH value) on the performance of the electrochemical treatment were evaluated using orthogonal array factorial experiment (44). Performance of the electrochemical treatment of the wastewater was based on the ability to reduce selected parameters. The treatment showed that the process was capable of removing 70.42% of turbidity, removed 99.69% of suspended solid and removed 80.72% of total solids concentration. It also revealed that the selected factors had effects on contaminants removal. The study concluded that electrochemical method is a viable method in removing physico-chemical contaminants without losing much of the electrodes.