Study of SoilPollutants inOmdurman IndustrialArea, Sudan, Using X-ray Fluorescence Technique

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Department ofChemistry, College of Science,King Khalid University,Abha, P. O. Box 9004, Kingdom of SaudiArabia

Abstract

In this work X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to evaluate the soil pollution with
heavy metals for twenty four surface soil samples (0–10 cm in depth) from various locations to cover the
industrial area in Omdurman city, Sudan. Concentrations of 10 elements Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Pb, Rb, Co, Cd and
As were determined. It was found that Cr, Cu and Cd concentrations for almost all studied sites are greater
than the normal values, while most the Ni, Zn, Co, As and Pb concentrations are lower than the normal values.
Some of the concentrations of As are greater than the normal values. The elemental concentrations were
compared with the normal values and other studies in different locations from the world. The correlation
between elements appears that pollution inside the investigated area results from different sources of
contamination present inside it. The results establish a database reference of radioactivity background levels
around this region.

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