Adsorption of heavy metals on different Adsorbents

Heavy metals are present in nature and industrial wastewater. Owing to their mobility in natural
water ecosystems and their toxicity, the presence of heavy metals in surface water and
groundwater poses a major contamination problem. Heavy metals such as Hg, Ag, Pb, Ni, Cd are
persistent and bioaccumulative, and do not readily break down in the environment or not easily
metabolized. Such metals accumulate in ecological food chain through uptake at primary
producer level and then through consumption at consumer levels. Plants are stationary and roots
of a plant are the primary contact site for heavy metal ions. In aquatic systems, whole plant body
is exposed to these ions. Heavy metals are also adsorbed directly to the leaves due to particles
deposited on the foliar surfaces. Heavy metals enter the human body either through inhalation or
ingestion, which is the main route of entry for general population. However, urbanization and
traffic, industrial and agricultural activities, waste incineration and mining have significantly
contributed to the entry of heavy metals through inhalation in human body. Heavy metals such as
Cd, Ni, As and Cr pose a number of hazards to humans. Heavy metals are also potent
carcinogens. Cadmium intake leads to itai- itai disease and mercury intake leads to minimata
disease. Other heavy metals such as causes poisoning due to drinking water contamination. The
heavy metals lead and copper are among the most common pollutants found in industrial
effluents. These metals can be toxic to organisms, including humans. Lead is extremely toxic and
can damage the nervous system, kidneys and reproductive system, particularly in children.
Although copper is an essential trace element, high levels can cause harmful health effects.
Copper is also toxic to a variety of aquatic organisms, even at very low concentration.

Conventional methods for removing heavy metals include chemical precipitation, ion exchange,
oxidation/reduction, filtration, electrochemical processes, membrane separation and evaporation.
These methods have several disadvantages like high cost, incomplete removal, low selectivity
and high-energy consumption.

Biosorbents are also attractive and low cost adsorbents for removal of heavy metals. In this
project, different adsorbent will be used for removal of different heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni).