Help Fund My Engineering Undergraduate Thesis

Mercury Amalgamation is one of the most prominent methods in small-scale gold mining in Diat, Pantukan, Davao de Oro, Philippines. The process involves using the toxic metal mercury and, its harmful disposal to the natural environment through the operations' wastewater that affects the public health and the organisms around the area. A study showed that 38% of local inhabitants living near the Naboc River where wastewater from small-scale mining operations is mercury intoxicated.

Mercury pollution significantly affects public health, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues. According to human biomonitoring statistics, between 3.3-6.5 million miners worldwide suffer from mild chronic metallic mercury vapor intoxication. These rough estimates and studies show the danger of the mercury-contaminated wastewaters released from SSGM facilities, thus underlining the importance of its removal and treatment.

The study to be conducted aims to use chicken feathers as an adsorbent to remove the mercury from wastewater. The keratin in chicken feathers is a protein-containing amino acid that will help absorb heavy metals from the contaminated wastewater.

I would appreciate your help and support for this research to push through in order to help extend the literature on the use of natural materials to help treat wastewater and lessen the effect of mercury on the public health of the people.