Determination of Organic Pollutants in Water Samples along the Course of River Jakara and River Rafin Malam in Kano State – Nigeria

Y. Mohammed[1], A. Ekevwe[2]
Page No. 138-143

Water samples of River Jakara and River Rafin Malam were analyzed for organic pollutants. The
organic parameters were determined using the standard methods of America Public health Agency
(APHA) and was extracted and analyzed using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer(GC-MS).
Ten different organic compounds were detected at different percentage values at River Jakara while
only seven different compound were detected in River Rafin Malam. The compounds fall within five
classes of organic compounds, which include carboxylic acid, acid chloride, ester, aldehyde and
acid anhydride. The distribution pattern of the organic pollutant at the two sampling stations depict
the pattern; River Jakara > River Rafin Malam .The study shows that organochlorine was the
predominant organic pollutant present in River Jakara sample which is a hazardous pollutant
while River Rafin Malam has no toxic pollutant which is attributed lack of activity of the River.