scholarly journals Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewaters: A Challenge from Current Treatment Methods to Nanotechnology Applications

Toxics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Ruxandra Vidu ◽  
Ecaterina Matei ◽  
Andra Mihaela Predescu ◽  
Badriyah Alhalaili ◽  
Cristian Pantilimon ◽  
...  

Removing heavy metals from wastewaters is a challenging process that requires constant attention and monitoring, as heavy metals are major wastewater pollutants that are not biodegradable and thus accumulate in the ecosystem. In addition, the persistent nature, toxicity and accumulation of heavy metal ions in the human body have become the driving force for searching new and more efficient water treatment technologies to reduce the concentration of heavy metal in waters. Because the conventional techniques will not be able to keep up with the growing demand for lower heavy metals levels in drinking water and wastewaters, it is becoming increasingly challenging to implement technologically advanced alternative water treatments. Nanotechnology offers a number of advantages compared to other methods. Nanomaterials are more efficient in terms of cost and volume, and many process mechanisms are better and faster at nanoscale. Although nanomaterials have already proved themselves in water technology, there are specific challenges related to their stability, toxicity and recovery, which led to innovations to counteract them. Taking into account the multidisciplinary research of water treatment for the removal of heavy metals, the present review provides an updated report on the main technologies and materials used for the removal of heavy metals with an emphasis on nanoscale materials and processes involved in the heavy metals removal and detection.

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 2659
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zaim Anaqi Zaimee ◽  
Mohd Sani Sarjadi ◽  
Md Lutfor Rahman

Natural occurrence and anthropogenic practices contribute to the release of pollutants, specifically heavy metals, in water over the years. Therefore, this leads to a demand of proper water treatment to minimize the harmful effects of the toxic heavy metals in water, so that a supply of clean water can be distributed into the environment or household. This review highlights several water treatment methods that can be used in removing heavy metal from water. Among various treatment methods, the adsorption process is considered as one of the highly effective treatments of heavy metals and the functionalization of adsorbents can fully enhance the adsorption process. Therefore, four classes of adsorbent sources are highlighted: polymeric, natural mineral, industrial by-product, and carbon nanomaterial adsorbent. The major purpose of this review is to gather up-to-date information on research and development on various adsorbents in the treatment of heavy metal from water by emphasizing the adsorption capability, effect of pH, isotherm and kinetic model, removal efficiency and the contact of time of every adsorbent.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-22
Author(s):  
Saifeldin M. Siddeeg ◽  
Mohamed A. Tahoon ◽  
Norah S. Alsaiari ◽  
Muhamad Shabbir ◽  
Faouzi B. Rebah

Background: Nanomaterials offer promising remediation techniques for water containing toxic pollutants especially heavy metals. Method: A complete analysis of the application of nano-adsorbents for heavy metals removal from water has been reviewed. The effect of their functionalization on the adsorption capacity, the reusability, and the surface area has also been discussed. Result: In particular, the focus was on the applications of graphene oxide, carbon, silica, titanium dioxide, and iron oxide for water treatment. Additionally, the effect of functional groups on heavy metal selectivity has been discussed as well. Conclusion: This article will provide environmental engineers and academicians with information related to the latest engineered nanomaterials employed for the treatment of wastewater containing toxic heavy metals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Mensah ◽  
David J. Lewis ◽  
Nathaniel O. Boadi ◽  
Johannes A. M. Awudza

Contamination of water and soil with toxic heavy metals is a major threat to human health. Although extensive work has been performed on reporting heavy metal pollutions globally, there are limited review articles on addressing this pernicious phenomenon. This paper reviews inorganic nanoparticles and provides a framework for their qualities required as good nanoadsorbents for efficient removal of heavy metals from water. Different inorganic nanoparticles including metals, metal oxides and metal sulfides nanoparticles have been applied as nanoadsorbents to successfully treat water with high contaminations of heavy metals at concentrations greater than 100 mg l −1 , achieving high adsorption capacities up to 3449 mg g −1 . It has been identified that the synthesis method, selectivity, stability, regeneration and reusability, and adsorbent separation from solution are critical parameters in deciding on the quality of inorganic nanoadsorbents. Surface functionalized nanoadsorbents were found to possess high selectivity and capacity for heavy metals removal from water even at a very low adsorbent dosage of less than 2 g l −1 , which makes them better than conventional adsorbents in environmental remediation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 1695-1698
Author(s):  
Marin Rusanescu ◽  
Carmen Otilia Rusanescu ◽  
Gheorghe Voicu ◽  
Mihaela Begea

A calcium bentonite from Orasu Nou deposit (Satu Mare Romania) was used as raw material. We have conducted laboratory experiments to determine the influence of bentonite on the degree of heavy metal retention. It has been observed that the rate of retention increases as the heavy metal concentration decreases. Experimental studies have been carried out on metal retention ( Zn) in bentonite. In this paper, we realized laboratory experiments for determining the influence of metal (Zn) on the growth and development of two types of plants (Pelargonium domesticum and Kalanchoe) and the effect of bentonite on the absorption of pollutants. These flowers were planted in unpolluted soil, in heavy metal polluted soil and in heavy metal polluted soil to which bentonite was added to observe the positive effect of bentonite. It has been noticed that the flowers planted in unpolluted soil and polluted with heavy metals to which bentonite has been added, the flowers have flourished, the leaves are still green and the plants whose soils have been polluted with heavy metals began to dry after 6 days, three weeks have yellowish leaves and flowers have dried. Experiments have demonstrated the essential role of bentonite for the removal of heavy metals polluted soil.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 2149-2152 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Grappelli ◽  
L. Campanella ◽  
E. Cardarelli ◽  
F. Mazzei ◽  
M. Cordatore ◽  
...  

Experiments on the real possibility of employing microorganisms to capture inorganic polluting substances, mainly heavy metals from urban and industrial wastes, are running using bacteria biomass. Many strains of Arthrobacter spp., gram-negative bacteria, diffused in the soil also inacondition of environmental stresses, have been proved to be particulary effective in heavy metal capture (Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn). The active and passive processes in accumulation of metals by bacteria were studied. Our experiments have been done on fluid biomass and on a membrane both for practical use and for an easy recovery.


2014 ◽  
Vol 587-589 ◽  
pp. 692-695
Author(s):  
Wei Sun

Bio-absorption has an unparalleled advantage over other traditional methods in removing and recycling heavy metal ions from waste water. Consequently, it has a promising future. In this paper, the traditional methods and the bio-sorption method via which heavy metals are removed from waste water are compared to summarize the mechanism of bio-sorption, the types of bio-sorbent, the factors that can influence bio-sorption and the state of its application in waste water treatment .


2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 2355-2368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalida Naseem ◽  
Zahoor H. Farooqi ◽  
Muhammad Z. Ur Rehman ◽  
Muhammad A. Ur Rehman ◽  
Robina Begum ◽  
...  

Abstract This review is based on the adsorption characteristics of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) for removal of heavy metals from aqueous media. Different parameters like pH, temperature of the medium, sorghum concentration, sorghum particle size, contact time, stirring speed and heavy metal concentration control the adsorption efficiency of sorghum biomass for heavy metal ions. Sorghum biomass showed maximum efficiency for removal of heavy metal ions in the pH range of 5 to 6. It is an agricultural waste and is regarded as the cheapest biosorbent, having high adsorption capacity for heavy metals as compared to other reported adsorbents, for the treatment of heavy metal polluted wastewater. Adsorption of heavy metal ions onto sorghum biomass follows pseudo second order kinetics. Best fitted adsorption isotherm models for removal of heavy metal ions on sorghum biomass are Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Thermodynamic aspects of heavy metal ions adsorption onto sorghum biomass have also been elaborated in this review article. How adsorption efficiency of sorghum biomass can be improved by different physical and chemical treatments in future has also been elaborated. This review article will be highly useful for researchers working in the field of water treatment via biosorption processing. The quantitative demonstrated efficiency of sorghum biomass for various heavy metal ions has also been highlighted in different sections of this review article.


Author(s):  
Abimbola O. Aleshinloye ◽  
Kemayou Ngangsso ◽  
Feyisara B. Adaramola ◽  
Adebayo Onigbinde

This study investigated the potential of some agricultural wastes viz; African Star apple seed shell (ASS, plant source), crab shell (CS, animal source) and chicken egg shell (ES, animal source) as eco-friendly and low-cost biological materials for the removal of heavy metals from poultry wastewater. TS, TSS and TDS of the wastewater sample were assayed by filtration methods, chloride content by previously reported method and heavy metal contents (Zn, V, Cd, Fe, Ni, Cu, Co, Pb, Cr and Mn); were analyzed using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer. The results of the solids and chloride contents of the poultry wastewater were TDS (3100 mg/L), TS (3700 mg/L), TSS (6000 mg/L) and chloride (4.7 g/L); all above the EPA permissible limits. Results of the FTIR analysis showed that ASS is an amide polymer while the CS and ES shells are mixtures of amide and carbonate polymers. Also, results of heavy metal analysis before and after adsorption showed that ASS caused removal of Zn, V, Fe, Cu, Co/ Pb and Mn by 48.27, 32.22, 49.64, 91.44, 100 and 82.39% respectively while Cd, Ni and Cr contents increased by 31, 61 and 48.3% respectively. CS showed removal of Fe, Ni/ Co/ Cr, Pb and Mn by 89.64, 100, 3.51 and 95.96% respectively while Zn, V, Cd and Cu contents increased by 1.7, 61.2, 76.1 and 68.1% respectively. Meanwhile, with ES, the contents of Zn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Cr and Mn increased by 31.56, 86.36, 100, 55.5, 45.80 and 90.33% respectively while the contents of V, Cd, Co and Pb decreased by 78.9, 86.7, 42.5 and 46.2% respectively. This study demonstrated the use of ASS, CS and ES as low- cost and eco-friendly agricultural wastes with significant potential for removal of heavy metals from wastewaters.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Aralp ◽  
A. Erdincler ◽  
T. T. Onay

Heavy metal concentration in sludge is one of the major obstacles for the application of sludge on land. There are various methods for the removal of heavy metals in sludge. Using sulfur oxidizing bacteria for microbiological removal of heavy metals from sludges is an outstanding option because of high metal solubilization rates and the low cost. In this study, bioleaching by indigenous sulfur oxidizing bacteria was applied to sludges generated from the co-treatment of municipal wastewater and leachate for the removal of selected heavy metals. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria were acclimated to activated sludge. The effect of the high organic content of leachate on the bioleaching process was investigated in four sets of sludges having different concentrations of leachate. Sludges in Sets A, B, C and D were obtained from co-treatment of wastewater and 3%, 5%, 7% and 10% (v/v) leachate respectively. The highest Cr, Ni and Fe solubilization was obtained from Set A. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria were totally inhibited in Set D that received the highest volume of leachate.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismael Acosta-Rodríguez ◽  
Juan F. Cárdenas-González ◽  
Adriana S. Rodríguez Pérez ◽  
Juana Tovar Oviedo ◽  
Víctor M. Martínez-Juárez

The objective of this work was to study the resistance and removal capacity of heavy metals by the fungusAspergillus niger. We analyzed the resistance to some heavy metals by dry weight and plate: the fungus grew in 2000 ppm of zinc, lead, and mercury, 1200 and 1000 ppm of arsenic (III) and (VI), 800 ppm of fluor and cobalt, and least in cadmium (400 ppm). With respect to their potential of removal of heavy metals, this removal was achieved for zinc (100%), mercury (83.2%), fluor (83%), cobalt (71.4%), fairly silver (48%), and copper (37%). The ideal conditions for the removal of 100 mg/L of the heavy metals were 28°C, pH between 4.0 and 5.5, 100 ppm of heavy metal, and 1 g of fungal biomass.


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