Biosorbents for heavy metals removal and their future

This article gives an overview of the application of nanomaterials in environmental remediation. In the area of environmental remediation, nanomaterials offer the potential for the efficient removal of pollutants and biological contaminants. Nanomaterials in various shapes/morphologies, such as nanoparticles, tubes, wires, fibres etc., function as adsorbents and catalysts and their composites with polymers are used for the detection and removal of gases (SO2, CO, NOx, etc.), contaminated chemicals (arsenic, iron, manganese, nitrate, heavy metals, etc.), organic pollutants (aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons) and biological substances, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and antibiotics. Nanomaterials show a better performance in environmental remediation than other conventional techniques because of their high surface area (surface-to-volume ratio) and their associated high reactivity. Recent advances in the fabrication of novel nanoscale materials and processes for the treatment of drinking water and industrial waste water contaminated by toxic metal ions, radionuclides, organic and inorganic solutes, bacteria and viruses and the treatment of air are highlighted. In addition, recent advances in the application of polymer nanocomposite materials for the treatment of contaminants and the monitoring of pollutants are also discussed. Furthermore, the research trends and future prospects are briefly discussed.

A review on nanomaterials for environmental remediation

Arsenic toxicity, health hazards and removal techniques from water : an overview

Two of the greatest challenges facing the 21st century involve providing sustainable supplies of clean water and energy, two highly interrelated resources, at affordable costs. Membrane technology is expected to continue to dominate the water purifica- tion technologies owing to its energy efficiency. However, there is a need for improved membranes that have higher flux, are more selective, are less prone to various types of fouling, and are more resistant to the chemical environment, especially chlorine, of these processes. This article summarizes the nature of the global water problem and reviews the state of the art of membrane technology. Existing deficiencies of current membranes and the opportunities to resolve them with innovative polymer chemistry and physics are identified. Extensive background is provided to help the reader understand the fundamental issues involved. V C 2010 Wiley Periodi- cals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1685-1718, 2010

Water Purification by Membranes: The Role of Polymer Science

Drawbacks of applying nanofiltration and how to avoid them: A review

Removal of arsenic and pesticides from drinking water by nanofiltration membranes

https://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/195868.biores_technol.JApdf.pdf

High nitrate removal from synthetic wastewater with the mixed bacterial culture.

Fungal mycelium pellets of Aspergillus niger 405 has been used for adsorption of different metals. The biosorption of copper(II), zinc(II), nickel(II) and chromium(VI) is being studied over a range off metal ion concentrations, adsorption time, pH and co-anions. The process of uptake obeyed both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results showed better biosorption for the first three metal ions between pH 4 and 6. On the contrary, pH values over a range of 3 to 7 had no influence on sorption of chromium. Comparison of metal uptake in single and multi-component aqueous solutions of Cu-Zn-Ni-Cr have been also undertaken. Fungus Aspergillus niger 405 showed a good affinity for binding of Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ in single and multicomponent-equimass solution, while in multi-component solution it occurred only for copper and zinc.

Biosorption of Chromium, Copper, Nickel and Zinc Ions onto Fungal Pellets of Aspergillus niger 405 from Aqueous Solutions

Removal of ammonia, iron and manganese from groundwaters of northern Croatia—pilot plant studies

The physicochemical characterization of uranium(VI) in seawater is described on the basis of species distribution calculations and experiments using polarography and spectrophotometry in artificial seawater at elevated uranium concentrations. Various dissolved uranium(VI) species are identified under different conditions of pH and carbonate concentration. Below pH 4, the hydrated uranyl ion is present in the free state (forming labile complexes). Above pH 4, a stepwise coordination of uranyl by the carbonate ion occurs. The monocarbonate complex is formed in the pH range 4-5, the bicarbonate uranyl complex between 5 and 6. Above pH 8, uranium is present predominately as the tricarbonate and to a smaller extent as a trihydroxide complex. There is satisfactory agreement between our experiments and the theoretically computed distribution of uranium(VI) in seawater based on published stability constants. The experiments done at higher concentrations are justified by theoretical distributions showing that there is no great difference in species distribution between the uranium at concentrations of 10/sup -4/ and /sup -8/ mol dm/sup -3/.

https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.4319/lo.1986.31.5.1122

Laszlo Sipos

Papers

Removal of arsenic and pesticides from drinking water by nanofiltration membranes

High nitrate removal from synthetic wastewater with the mixed bacterial culture.

Biosorption of Chromium, Copper, Nickel and Zinc Ions onto Fungal Pellets of Aspergillus niger 405 from Aqueous Solutions

Removal of ammonia, iron and manganese from groundwaters of northern Croatia—pilot plant studies

Characterization of uranium(VI) in seawater