Assessment of heavy metals concentration in the water around the area of Adipala Cilacap steam power plant using neutron activation analysis

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess the concentration of hazardous heavy metals (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Cr) in water wells and rivers, around the Adipala Cilacap steam power plant, using neutron activation analysis method. Sample of wells water and river water were taken around the Adipala Cilacap steam power plant. Samples were irradiated with pneumatic facility and Lazy Suzan in the Kartini Research Reactor, at a thermal neutron flux of approximately 0.58x1011 n.cm−2.det−1. The average concentration of hazardous heavy metals has the smallest metal value of Cr with a value of 0.0006 mg/L and the highest metal Cu with a value of 0.057 mg/L, which is examined in water wells following a decrease in the order of Cu > Zn > As > Cd > Cr. The five hazardous heavy metals under the maximum standard recommended by the WHO/USEPA and Minister of Health’s Regulation No. 492. In addition to the hazardous heavy metals, there are 13 other heavy metals that determined its concentration (Al, Ba, Mg, K, Fe, Na, Mn, Ti, La, Ce, Sm, Cs, and V), and obtained the results of the metal concentrations Al exceeds the threshold allowable by Minister of Health’s Regulation No. 492 the Year 2010.