Assessment of Kaolinite as a Natural Remediation Agent for Lead (Pb) Contamination in Groundwater in Mirerani, Tanzania

his study explores the efficacy of kaolinite as a natural remediation for lowering lead (Pb) concentrations in groundwater resources in the Mirerani Manyara Region, Tanzania. The mining site exhibited a notably high mean Pb concentration of 0.025 mg/L, which exceeds the World Health Organization's guideline of 0.015 mg/L. In comparison, other regions, including agricultural (0.016 mg/L), residential (0.014 mg/L), and commercial (0.016 mg/L) areas, demonstrated lower Pb levels, yet remained concerning due to their proximity to mining operations. Adsorption of lead ions by kaolinite is a key natural mechanism for reducing Pb concentrations in water. The lead (Pb) levels initially ranged from 0.001 to 0.411 before the application of kaolinite, with a mean value of 0.019 and a standard deviation of 0.032. After the application of kaolinite, lead levels decreased with significant p-value of 0.0001, readings ranging from 0.000 to 0.026. The mean difference between initial and final Pb levels was 0.019 mg/L, with the removal efficiency (85%) /adsorption capacity of 0.385 mg/L at 95% confidence level with pH ranging from 4.4 to 8.9, with a stable decrease pH to 7. -and 80-minutes contact time. These findings indicate that kaolinite is a natural promising, sustainable, and cost-effective approach for treating Pb-contaminated groundwater. It offers insights into the application of natural remediation methods for Lead heavy metal removal