Physico-chemical Characterization of industrial effluents from Fez city

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the physico-chemical characteristics of effluents from some of Fez main activities: tannery factories, textile industry, metal finishing facility and olive oil mills industry. Samples were analyzed for pH, suspended particulate matter (SPM), major ions (Cl, NO₃, SO₄, K, Na, Ca and Mg), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and trace metals. Results showed that all effluent samples were characterized by high concentration of dissolved organic carbon with the highest level recorded in olive oil mills effluents (5960 mg L^-1). Tannery effluent contained high DOC concentrations (1440 mg L^-1), SPM (2600 mg L^-1), sulphate (19300 mg L^-1) and dissolved chromium (2900 mg L^-1). A textile effluent was characterized by elevated concentrations of SPM and major ions. High dissolved concentrations of trace metals (600 mg L^-1 for Ni) were recorded in metal finishing facility effluents. These results suggested that industrial effluents discharged without proper treatments poses potential threat to the receiving riversand may represent a risk for the local populations which are exposed to pollutants due to the numerous practices of such river waters.