Determination of levels of phosphates and sulphates in domestic water from three selected springs in Nandi County, Kenya
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Date
2013-07
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY & LIFE SCIENCES
Abstract
This research was to estimate the levels of phosphates and sulphates in three selected springs. The analysis of
phosphates requires good digestion which converts phosphorus to orthophosphate in the process. Therefore, ascorbic
acid digestion method was employed in the phosphate analysis. The sulphates spectrophotometric analysis is based
on the formation of colloids by sulphates and Barium chloride. With this method the greatest challenge was
instability of conditioning reagent with time. Several timing trials were done to come up with the optimum time for
reaction between the addition of conditioning reagent and sample analysis. Sampling was done at selected springs in
Baraton Location, Sironoi Location and Kaptildil Location, all situated in Chesumei Constituency, Nandi County,
Rift valley province in Kenya. The selected water springs are commonly used by residents for domestic purposes.
The research showed that there is a significant level of phosphates and sulfates in all sampled water. Phosphates
concentration were between the range of 2.79 mg/L to 622 mg/L, while sulphates were in the range of 109.8 mg/L to
250.98 mg/L.