Silver waste distribution in effluents and Gajahwong and Mantras Pioro River segments from the silver craft industry in Kotagede, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Silver is a hazardous heavy metal that can be found in waters due to effluents from silver crafting. This research aimed to determine the silver contents of effluents from the silver craft industry in Kotagede, Yogyakarta, and analyze the distribution of silver in the receiving bodies of water: Gajahwong and Mantras Pioro River segments. Laboratory tests were conducted to calculate the presence of silver in effluents, river water, and river sediments, and a correlation analysis was employed to investigate the spatial correlation between silver concentrations and silver craft industries. Laboratory test results found silver at <0.0024-88.48 mg/L in effluents. When disposed of into the river, the silver-containing effluents cause contamination in both river segments, as evidenced by <0.0024 mg/L of silver in the water and 2.80-4.04 mg/Kg in the sediment. The distribution pattern also suggested that the concentration of silver increases as the number of silver craft industries on each side of the two river segments increases. In conclusion, the distribution of silver craft industries influences the spread of silver content in the Gajahwong and Mantras Pioro segments.