Title: A review on the use of biopolymers for the removal of toxic metals from liquid industrial effluents

Authors: Virendra Misra

Addresses: Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, P.O. Box 80, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226 001(UP), India

Abstract: Various industrial processes such as mining, metal plating, metal finishing, and chrome tanning discharge many chemicals and heavy metals into the plant effluent stream. In view of this, the need of developing viable and relevant technologies that can not only cleanup but also recover valuable components from industrial and biological waste streams is of utmost importance. This paper describes the use of the adsorption capacity of natural and agricultural by-products/biopolymers for the removal of metals. Also, factors affecting the adsorption such as adsorbent amount, contact time, agitation speed, temperature, pH etc. of the aqueous solution have been discussed.

Keywords: biopolymers; adsorption capacity; heavy metals; metal removal; liquid industrial effluents; wastewater treatment; toxic metals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.026354

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.393 - 410

Published online: 07 Jun 2009 *

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