Abstract:

This study investigates separation based on cactus mucilage as an emergency response biomaterial to provide clean drinking water for communities affected by natural disasters. The mucilage is extracted from the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus, commonly known as nopal or prickly pear. Samples of tap water (from a treatment center), well water, and distributed water from a tanker truck were collected from 4 different locations at Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A wide-range analysis of elements was performed on acidified samples to determine the water quality and type of contamination. Water samples were treated with gelling and non-gelling mucilage extracts. This dataset reports trace metal and ion concentrations for water samples collected in Haiti both before and after treatment with 10 mg/L gelling and 10 mg/L non-gelling mucilage extract.

Suggested Citation:

Norma Alcantar. 2016. Dataset for: Cactus Mucilage as an Emergency Response Biomaterial to Provide Clean Drinking Water. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7WD3XHN

Publications:

Stebbins, D., Buttice, A. L., Fox, D., Smith, D. M., & Alcantar, N. A. (2013). Cactus Mucilage as an Emergency Response Biomaterial to Provide Clean Drinking Water. Monitoring Water Quality, 249–260. doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-59395-5.00010-8

Purpose:

Testing cactus mucilage to separate heavy metals from polluted water.

Data Parameters and Units:

Table 10-1: Site B - trace metal concentrations for water sampled at Site B (well water CAMEP Borehole/Rue Theodat Station 8/12/2010), SRM 1640a found = trace metal concentrations in Standard Reference Material SRM 1640a analyzed, SRM 1640a certified - trace metal concentrations for Standard Reference Material 1640a certified by the supplier, R1-6 = trace metal concentrations (Na, Ca, Mg, K, Sr, B, Ba, Pb, Cr, Al, Sb, Cu, Co, Mo, U, V, Tl, Cd, Se, As, Fe)for the different replicates (mg/L or ug/L); average; standard deviation; % Recovery. Table 10-2: Ion concentrations (Boron, Barium, Iron, Selenium) for water sampled in Port-Au-Prince Haiti, Site B = well water CAMEP Borehole/Rue Theodat Station 8/12/2010, Site C = well water 4th Borehole/Pinguin Region 8/12/2010, Site D = distribution truck Gedeon Camp/Delmas 75 8/12/2010, Site H = tap water Constitution Park Camp 8/13/2010, R1-3 = Ion concentrations for the different trials (mg/L or ug/L); average; standard deviation. Table 10-4: Elemental concentration (Ba, Zn, B, Cr, Fe, Se, As, Ni, Pb) for water from Site B with and without the mucilage gelling extract treatment. Elemental concentration (ug/L); average; standard deviation; gelling extract concentration (10 mg/L). Table 10-5: Removal of elements in water from Site B after treatment with 10 mg/L Opuntia ficus-indica gelling extract; average; standard deviation; removal %. Table 10-6: Elemental concentration (Ba, Zn, B, Cr, Fe, Se, As, Ni, Pb) for water sampled from Site C with and without mucilage non-gelling extract. Elemental concentrations (ug/L); average; standard deviation; non-gelling extract concentration (10 mg/L)Table 10-7: Removal of elements in water from site C after treatment with 10 mg/L Opuntia ficus-indica non-gelling extract. Elemental concentration (ug/L); average; standard deviation; removal %

Methods:

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP–MS). Samples were analyzed three times with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP–MS). A certified reference material (NIST 1640) was used to check instrument accuracy and laboratory efficiency. Calibration standards were prepared from stock solutions diluted from high-purity standard solutions (1000 mg/L).

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