Compositional and Structural Characterization of Three Basic Indigenous Salts Used in Kenya: A Case Study of ‘Ebara’, ‘Magadi’ and ‘Lebek’ Crystalline Salts.

Abstract

Compositional analysis was carried out on three indigenous basic salts from Lake Magadi, Shores of Lake Victoria and the Hot Springs of the Kerio Valley which are different parts of Kenya. All treatments were done in triplicate in complete randomized block design. Fresh and dry weights were recorded at the end of the experiment and analysed for K, Na, Ca, Mg, Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd , Zn cations and CO3 2-, and HCO3 - anions. The three different indigenous basic salts are commonly refered as ‘magadi’, ‘Para’, and ‘Lebek’ respectively from the three areas. pH, quantitative and qualitative analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Flame Photometry, FTIR and the wet methods; Gravimetry and titrimetry. A wet digestion procedure was adopted to dissolve the salts. In general, the concentration of heavy metals in the salts followed the order: magadi; Fe > Co > Pb > Cd Mn> Zn > Cu; Para; Fe > Mn > Co > Zn> Pb > Cu>Cd; Lebek; Fe > Mn > Zn > Co> Cu > Pb>Cd. Sodium, Potassium and calcium content was found to be very high in all the samples. Sodium concentration was recorded to be 71.52 mg/g in ‘Magadi’, Potassium concentration was found to be 2.69 mg/g in ‘Para’, and calcium concentration was found to be 166.09 mg/g in ‘Lebek’. Samples of ‘Para’ and ‘Lebek’, contained comparatively higher amounts of Fe as compared to ‘magadi’. Lead is present in higher levels in all the samples than minimum levels. The pH values ranged from 9.98±0.01 to 11.26±0.03, an indication of the alkaline nature of these salts. Key words: Indigeneous salts; Composition; Characterisation; Heavy metals; Hydrolysis