Applications of Nanomaterials for Heavy Metal Removal from Water and Soil: A Review

Heavy metals are toxic and non-biodegradable environmental contaminants that seriously threaten human health. The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated water and soil is an urgent issue from both environmental and biological points of view. Recently, nanomaterials with excellent adsorption capacities, great chemical reactivity, active atomicity, and environmentally friendly performance have attracted widespread interest as potential adsorbents for heavy metal removal. This review first introduces the application of nanomaterials for removing heavy metal ions from the environment. Then, the environmental factors affecting the adsorption of nanomaterials, their toxicity, and environmental risks are discussed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of applying nanomaterials in environmental remediation are discussed, which can provide perspectives for future in-depth studies and applications.

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Heavy metal removal by biomass-derived carbon nanotubes as a greener environmental remediation: A comprehensive review

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131959 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 131959

Author(s):

Anh Tuan Hoang ◽

Sandro Nižetić ◽

Chin Kui Cheng ◽

Rafael Luque ◽

Sabu Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Comprehensive Review

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A Way to Membrane-Based Environmental Remediation for Heavy Metal Removal

Environments ◽

10.3390/environments8060052 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 52

Author(s):

Catia Algieri ◽

Sudip Chakraborty ◽

Sebastiano Candamano

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Scale Up ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Research Activities ◽

Key Steps

During the last century, industrialization has grown very fast and as a result heavy metals have contaminated many water sources. Due to their high toxicity, these pollutants are hazardous for humans, fish, and aquatic flora. Traditional techniques for their removal are adsorption, electro-dialysis, precipitation, and ion exchange, but they all present various drawbacks. Membrane technology represents an exciting alternative to the traditional ones characterized by high efficiency, low energy consumption and waste production, mild operating conditions, and easy scale-up. In this review, the attention has been focused on applying driven-pressure membrane processes for heavy metal removal, highlighting each of the positive and negative aspects. Advantages and disadvantages, and recent progress on the production of nanocomposite membranes and electrospun nanofiber membranes for the adsorption of heavy metal ions have also been reported and critically discussed. Finally, future prospective research activities and the key steps required to make their use effective on an industrial scale have been presented

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Environmental remediation of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution through hydrogel adsorption: a critical review

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2015.567 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 73 (5) ◽

pp. 983-992 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Francis Ntumba Muya ◽

Christopher Edoze Sunday ◽

Priscilla Baker ◽

Emmanuel Iwuoha

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Metal Ions ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Heavy Metal Ions ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Aqueous Media ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

Potential Toxic Elements ◽

Treatment Technologies

Heavy metal ions such as Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, and Hg2+ from industrial waste water constitute a major cause of pollution for ground water sources. These ions are toxic to man and aquatic life as well, and should be removed from wastewater before disposal. Various treatment technologies have been reported to remediate the potential toxic elements from aqueous media, such as adsorption, precipitation and coagulation. Most of these technologies are associated with some shortcomings, and challenges in terms of applicability, effectiveness and cost. However, adsorption techniques have the capability of effectively removing heavy metals at very low concentration (1–100 mg/L). Various adsorbents have been reported in the literature for this purpose, including, to a lesser extent, the use of hydrogel adsorbents for heavy metal removal in aqueous phase. Here, we provide an in-depth perspective on the design, application and efficiency of hydrogel systems as adsorbents.

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Capacitive deionization and electrosorption for heavy metal removal

Environmental Science Water Research & Technology ◽

10.1039/c9ew00945k ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 258-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Raylin Chen ◽

Thomas Sheehan ◽

Jing Lian Ng ◽

Matthew Brucks ◽

Xiao Su

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Water Purification ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Resource Recovery ◽

Capacitive Deionization

Electrosorption and capacitive deionization technologies can be effective processes in removing heavy metal for water purification, wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and environmental remediation.

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Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption Properties of Methacrylamidocysteine-Containing Porous Poly(Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Chelating Beads

Adsorption Science & Technology ◽

10.1260/02636170260504305 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 20 (7) ◽

pp. 607-617 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Adil Denizli ◽

Bora Garipcan ◽

Sibel Emir ◽

Süleyman Patir ◽

Ridvan Say

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Metal Ions ◽

Metal Ion ◽

Heavy Metal Ions ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Ph Value ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Ion Concentration ◽

Heavy Metal Ion ◽

Adsorption Capacities

Details of the adsorption performance of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate–methacrylamidocysteine) [p(HEMA–MAC)] beads towards the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution were studied. The metal-complexing ligand and/or co-monomer MAC was newly synthesized from methylacrylochloride and cysteine. Spherical beads of average size 150–200 mm were obtained by the radical suspension polymerization of MAC and HEMA conducted in an aqueous dispersion. The p(HEMA–MAC) beads obtained had a specific surface area of 18.9 m2/g. p(HEMA–MAC) beads were characterized by swelling studies, FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Such beads with a swelling ratio of 72%, and containing 3.9 mmol MAC/g, were used for heavy metal removal studies. The adsorption capacities of the beads for selected metal ions, i.e. CdII, AsIII, CrIII, HgII and PbII, were investigated in aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (10–750 mg/l) and at different pH values (3.0–7.0). The adsorption rate was fast in all cases. The maximum adsorption capacities of the p(HEMA–MAC) beads were 1058.2 mg/g for CdII, 123.4 mg/g for AsIII, 199.6 mg/g for CrIII, 639.1 mg/g for PbII and 1018.6 mg/g for HgII. On a molar basis, the following affinity order was observed: CdII > HgII > CrIII > PbII >AsIII. The adsorption capacity of the MAC-incorporated beads was affected significantly by the pH value of the aqueous medium. The adsorption of heavy metal ions from artificial wastewater was also studied. In this case, the adsorption capacities were 52.2 mg/g for CdII, 23.1 mg/g for CrIII, 83.4 mg/g for HgII, 62.6 mg/g for PbII and 11.1 mg/g for AsIII at an initial metal ion concentration of 0.5 mmol/l. The chelating beads could be regenerated easily with a higher effectiveness by 0.1 M HNO3. These features make p(HEMA–MAC) beads potential candidates for heavy metal ion removal at high capacity.

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Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater by Chemically Modified Agricultural Waste Material as Potential Adsorbent-A Review

International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology ◽

10.14741/ijcet/v.8.3.6 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jyotikusum Acharya ◽

Upendra Kumar ◽

P. Mahammed Rafi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Metal Ions ◽

Heavy Metal Ions ◽

Conventional Treatment ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Agricultural Waste ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Chemically Modified ◽

Adsorption Capacities ◽

Heavy Metal Remediation

Heavy metal remediation of aqueous streams is of special concern due to recalcitrant and persistency of heavy metals in environment. Conventional treatment technologies for the removal of these toxic heavy metals are not economical and further generate huge quantity of toxic chemical sludge. Agricultural waste materials being economic and ecofriendly due to their unique biochemical composition, availability in abundance, renewable, low in cost and more efficient are seem to be viable option for heavy metal remediation. The major advantages of biosorption over conventional treatment methods include: low cost, high efficiency, minimization of chemical or biological sludge, regeneration of biosorbents and possibility of metal recovery. It is well known that cellulosic waste materials can be obtained and employed as cheap adsorbents and their performance to remove heavy metal ions can be affected upon chemical treatment. In general, chemically modified plant wastes exhibit higher adsorption capacities than unmodified forms. The functional groups present in agricultural waste biomass viz. acetamido, alcoholic, carbonyl, phenolic, amido, amino, sulphydryl groups etc. Have affinity for heavy metal ions to form metal complexes or chelates. Some of the treated adsorbents show good adsorption capacities for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni. Rice husk as a low-value agricultural by-product can be made into sorbent materials which are used in heavy metal removal. The mechanism of biosorption process includes chemisorptions, complexation, adsorption on surface, diffusion through pores and ion exchange etc. Agricultural residues are lignocelluloses substances which contain three main structural components: hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin. Lignocellulosic materials also contain extractives. Generally, three main components have high molecular weights and contribute much mass, while the extractives is of small molecular size, and available in little quantity, which announce in heavy metal removal.

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Synthesis and Applications of a Novel Copolymer of Chitosan as Heavy Metal Removal Agent

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.233-235.741 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 233-235 ◽

pp. 741-746

Author(s):

Hong Jie Tang ◽

Juan Juan Guo ◽

Bao Tian Shan ◽

Jin Ren Lu

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Heavy Metal Ions ◽

Graft Polymerization ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Infrared Spectrometry ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Adsorption Capacities ◽

Scanning Electron

The graft copolymer, chitosan-g-AM-AA, was prepared through graft polymerization of acryamide and acryl acid onto chitosan by K2S2O8 initiation under homogeneous conditions in 2 wt% acetic acid. The product was characterized by infrared spectrometry (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption capacities and removal ratioes of the copolymer for heavy metal ions were studied by using medium concentration (about 50mg/L) of Cu2+ ,Zn 2+and Pb2+ at pH 6. The results indicated the copolymer exhibited higher adsorbability than chitosan.

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Biosorption of heavy metals by Streptomyces species — an overview

Open Chemistry ◽

10.2478/s11532-013-0268-6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 1412-1422 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Rachid Mosbah ◽

Mohamed Sahmoune

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Cost Effective ◽

High Volume ◽

Streptomyces Species ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Antibiotic Fermentation

AbstractAbstract Heavy metals, derived from industrial wastewater discharge, present a serious threat to human health and to natural water. Biosorption is regarded as a cost-effective biotechnology for the treatment of high volume and low concentration wastewaters containing heavy metal(s) in the order of 1 to 100 mg L−1. Among the biomaterials for heavy metal removal which have been researched during the past decades is the Streptomyces species, a by-product of an industrial antibiotic fermentation process. This paper describes the hazards posed by heavy metals effluents on the environment and use of various Streptomyces species to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution. Characterization of Streptomyces species, factors affecting biosorption, biosorption isotherms and biosorption kinetics is discussed. Graphical abstract

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Synthesis and Water Treatment Applications of Nanofibers by Electrospinning

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9101779 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1779

Author(s):

Saumya Agrawal ◽

Rashmi Ranjan ◽

Bajrang Lal ◽

Ashiqur Rahman ◽

Swatantra P. Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Environmental Remediation ◽

Electrode Materials ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Heavy Metal Removal ◽

Membrane Distillation ◽

Electrospinning Process

In the past few decades, the role of nanotechnology has expanded into environmental remediation applications. In this regard, nanofibers have been reported for various applications in water treatment and air filtration. Nanofibers are fibers of polymeric origin with diameters in the nanometer to submicron range. Electrospinning has been the most widely used method to synthesize nanofibers with tunable properties such as high specific surface area, uniform pore size, and controlled hydrophobicity. These properties of nanofibers make them highly sought after as adsorbents, photocatalysts, electrode materials, and membranes. In this review article, a basic description of the electrospinning process is presented. Subsequently, the role of different operating parameters in the electrospinning process and precursor polymeric solution is reviewed with respect to their influence on nanofiber properties. Three key areas of nanofiber application for water treatment (desalination, heavy-metal removal, and contaminant of emerging concern (CEC) remediation) are explored. The latest research in these areas is critically reviewed. Nanofibers have shown promising results in the case of membrane distillation, reverse osmosis, and forward osmosis applications. For heavy-metal removal, nanofibers have been able to remove trace heavy metals due to the convenient incorporation of specific functional groups that show a high affinity for the target heavy metals. In the case of CECs, nanofibers have been utilized not only as adsorbents but also as materials to localize and immobilize the trace contaminants, making further degradation by photocatalytic and electrochemical processes more efficient. The key issues with nanofiber application in water treatment include the lack of studies that explore the role of the background water matrix in impacting the contaminant removal performance, regeneration, and recyclability of nanofibers. Furthermore, the end-of-life disposal of nanofibers needs to be explored. The availability of more such studies will facilitate the adoption of nanofibers for water treatment applications.

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