Sugar Industry as a Source of Pollution: A Case Study, Elgenaid Sugar Factory, Gezira State, Sudan

Pollution is a major national and world problem. Industries, including sugar industry, represent one of the pollution causes. This study aims to evaluate the extent of pollution in waste-water (WW), plants, and soil caused by the sugar industry in Elgenaid area, Gezira State, central Sudan. Completely randomized design was adopted. Samples were collected from the factory WW, trees, and soil from the area of study and compared with other areas far from the factory within the state. The WW samples were analyzed using titration methods to determine levels of sulfide, as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). Moreover, all samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) to determine concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu. The results showed that the sulfides concentration was ranging from 1.36 2.90 mg/L (average 2.21 mg/L), i.e. within the permissible limits. The COD was between 1,600 5,330 mg/L (av. 4,073 mg/L), while the BOD was between 870 and 2,730 mg/L ( av. 2,096 mg/L), i.e. both were higher than allowed concentrations (50 mg/L for COD, and 35 mg/L for BOD). All samples collected didn’t show detectable levels of Pb, Cu and Cd. However, Zn appeared in all samples; its concentrations ranged from 0.1359 0.6375 mg/L in WW samples (av. of 0.367mg/L), from 0.088 1.043 mg/L in trees samples (av. 0.399mg/L), and from 0.045 0.352 mg/L in the soil samples (average of 0.115 mg/L). These values are high according to the National Environment Quality Standard of Pakistan.