Chapter 16
Application of Green and Physico-Chemical Technologies in Treating Water Polluted by Heavy Metals
Publication: Green Technologies for Sustainable Water Management
Abstract
This chapter discusses the occurrences and usages of heavy metals along with current regulations and disposal methods of those heavy metals. It describes four heavy metals, namely arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury. The chapter reviews environmental and health impacts, owing to heavy metal pollution, emphasizes the need to treat waters that are polluted by heavy metals. Treatment technologies, such as chemical precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, membrane filtration, and coagulation/flocculation and their effectiveness in treating heavy metals are explored in the chapter. Eight green technologies have been evaluated for their performance in treating heavy metals. The technologies include biosorption, biostimulation, bioaugmentation, bioleaching, biosurfactants, bioprecipitation, vermicomposting, and phytoremediation. Green treatment technologies also offer a smarter option toward water sustainability and are being accepted globally. With the efficient utilization of the available water, the per capita consumption can be brought down remarkably.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
References
Abia, A. A., Horsfall, M., and Didi, O. (2003). “The use of chemically modified and unmodified cassava waste for the removal of Cd, Cu, and Zn ions from aqueous solution.” Bioresour. Technol., 90(3), 345–348.
Abioye, O. P. (2011). “Biological remediation of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contaminated soil.” Soil contamination, Simone Pascucci, ed., InTech, Croatia, Europe.
Akpor, O. B., and Muchie, M. (2010). “Remediation of heavy metals in drinking water and wastewater treatment systems: Processes and applications.” Int. J. Phys. Sci., 5(12), 1807–1817.
Annadurai, A., Juang, R. S., and Lee, D. J. (2002). “Adsorption of heavy metals from water using banana and orange peels.” Water Sci. Technol., 47(1), 185–190.
AsçI, Y., Nurbas, M., and Sag AçIkel, Y. (2010). “Investigation of sorption/desorption equilibria of heavy metal ions on/from quartz using rhamnolipid biosurfactant.” J. Environ. Manage., 91(3), 724–731.
Assem, L., and Zhu, H. (2007). “Chromium—Toxicological overview.” 〈http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947362170〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Babic, B. M., Milonjic, S. K., Polovina, M. J., Cupic, S., and Kaludjerovic, B. V. (2002). “Adsorption of zinc, cadmium and mercury ions from aqueous solutions on an activated carbon cloth.” Carbon, 40(7), 1109–1115.
Balogh, S. J., and Nollet, Y. H. (2008). “Mercury mass balance at a wastewater treatment plant employing sludge incineration with offgas mercury control.” Sci. Total Environ., 389(1), 125–131.
Bayat, B. (2002). “Comparative study of adsorption properties of Turkish fly ashes. I. The case of nickel (II), copper (II), and zinc (II).” J. Hazard. Mater., 95(3), 251–273.
Bhattacharya, A. K., Mandal, S. N., and Das, A. K. (2006). “Adsorption of Zn (II) from aqueous solution by using different adsorbents.” Chem. Eng. J., 123(1-2), 43–51.
Bhattacharya, A. K., Naiya, T. K., Mandal, S. N., and Das, S. K. (2008). “Adsorption, kinetics and equilibrium studies on removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions using different low cost adsorbents.” Chem. Eng. J., 137, 529–541.
Bhattacharyya, K. G., and Gupta, S. S. (2008). “Adsorption of a few heavy metals on natural and modified kaolinite and montmorillonite: A review.” Adv. Colloid Interface Sci., 140(2), 114–131.
Bishnoi, N. R., Bajaj, M., Sharma, N., and Gupta, A. (2003). “Adsorption of Cr (VI) on activated rice husk carbon and activated alumina.” Bioresour. Technol., 91(3), 305–307.
Bratskaya, S. Y., Pestov, Y. G., Yatluk, Y. G., and Avramenko, V. A. (2009). “Heavy metals removal by flocculation/precipitation using N-(2-carboxyethyl)chitosans.” Colloids Surfaces A, 339(1-3), 140–144.
Carr, G. M., and Neary, J. P. (2008). Water quality for ecosystem and human health, 2nd Ed., United Nations Environment Programme and Global Environment Monitoring System.
Chang, Q., and Wang, G. (2007). “Study on the macromolecular coagulant PEX which traps heavy metals.” Chem. Eng. Sci., 62(17), 4636–4643.
Chang, Q., Zhang, M., and Wang, J. X. (2009). “Removal of Cu2þ and turbidity from wastewater by mercaptoacetyl chitosan.” J. Hazard. Mater., 169(1-3), 621–625.
Chang, Y. K., Chang, J. E., Lin, T. T., and Hsu, Y. M. (2002). “Integrated copper-containing wastewater treatment using xanthate process.” J. Hazard. Mater., 94(1), 89–99.
Cifuentes, L., García, I., Arriagada, P., and Casas, J. M. (2009). “The use of electrodialysis for metal separation and water recovery from Fe solutions.” Purif. Technol., 68(1), 105–108.
Clesceri, L. S., Greenberg, A. E., and Eaton, A. D. (1999). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, APHA, AWA and WEF.
Dakiky, M., Khamis, M., Manassra, A., and Mer’eb, M. (2002). “Selective adsorption of Cr (VI) in industrial wastewater using low-cost abundantly available adsorbents.” Adv. Environ. Res., 6(4), 533–540.
De Castro Dantas, T. N., Dantas Neto, A. A., and Moura, M. C. P. De A. (2001). “Removal of chromium from aqueous solutions by diatomite treated with microemulsion.” Water Res., 35(9), 2219–2224.
Demirbas, E., Kobya, M., Oncel, S., and Sencan, S. (2002). “Removal of Ni (II) from aqueous solution by adsorption onto hazelnut shell activated carbon: Equilibrium studies.” Bioresour. Technol., 84(3), 291–293.
Duan, J. C., et al. (2010). “Synthesis of a novel flocculant on the basis of crosslinked Konjac glucomannan-graftpolyacrylamide-co-sodium xanthate and its application in removal of ion.” Carbohydr. Polym., 80(2), 436–441.
El Samrani, A. G., Lartiges, B. S., and Villiéras, F. (2008). “Chemical coagulation of combined sewer overflow: Heavy metal removal and treatment optimization.” Water Res., 42(4-5), 951–960.
European Commission. (2001). “Pollutants in urban wastewater and sewage sludge.” 〈http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/sludge/pdf/sludge_pollutants.pdf〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
European Commission. (2002). “Heavy metals in waste.” 〈http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pdf/heavy_metalsreport.pdf〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Feng, D., Van Deventer, J. S. J., and Aldrich, C. (2004). “Removal of pollutants from acid mine wastewater using metallurgical by-product slags.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 40(1), 61–67.
Fu, F., and Wang, Q. (2011). “Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: A review.” J. Environ. Manage., 92(3), 407–418.
Fulekar, M. H., Sharma, J., and Tendulkar, A. (2012). “Bioremediation of heavy metals using biostimulation in laboratory bioreactor.” Environ. Monitor. Assess., 184(12), 7299–7307.
Gaur, N., Flora, G., Yadav, M., and Tiwari, A. (2014). “A review with recent advancements on bioremediation-based abolition of heavy metals.” Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts, 16(2), 180–193.
Guo, M. X., Qiu, G. N., and Song, W. P. (2010). “Poultry litter-based activated carbon for removing heavy metal ions in water.” Waste Manage., 30(2), 308–315.
Hankins, N. P., Lu, N., and Hila, N. (2006). “Enhanced removal of heavy metal ions bound to humic acid by polyelectrolyte flocculation.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 51(1), 48–56.
Harish, R., Samuel, J., Mishra, R., Chandrasekaran, N., and Mukherjee, A. (2012). “Bio-reduction of Cr (VI) by exopolysaccharides (EPS) from indigenous bacterial species of Sukinda chromite mine, India.” Biodegradation, 23(4), 487–496.
Hasar, H. (2003). “Adsorption of nickel (II) from aqueous solution onto activated carbon prepared from almond husk.” J. Hazard. Mater., 97(1-3), 49–57.
Hashim, M. A., Mukhopadhyay, S., Sahu, J. N., and Sengupta, B. (2011). “Remediation technologies for heavy metal contaminated groundwater.” J. Environ. Manage., 92(10), 2355–2388.
Haynes, D., and Michalek-Wagner, K. (2000). “Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: Past perspectives, current issues and new research directions.” Mar. Pollut. Bull., 41(7-12), 428–434.
Heikens, A. (2006). “Arsenic contamination of irrigation water, soil and crops in Bangladesh: Risk implications for sustainable agriculture and food safety in Asia.” 〈ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/ag105e/ag105e00.pdf〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Heredia, J. B., and Martín, J. S. (2009). “Removing heavy metals from polluted surface water with a tannin-based flocculant agent.” J. Hazard. Mater., 165(1-3), 1215–1218.
Hu, H. (2002). “Human health and heavy metal exposure.” Life support: The environment and human health, M. McCally, ed., MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Inbaraj, B., and Sulochana, N. (2004). “Carbonised jackfruit peel as an adsorbent for the removal of Cd (II) from aqueous solution.” Bioresour. Technol., 94(1), 49–52.
Jackson, D. R., Selvidge, W. J., and Asmus, B. S. (1978). “Behaviour of heavy metals in forest microcosms: II. Effect on nutrient cycling processes.” Water Air Soil Pollut., 10, 13–18.
Janssen, G. M. C. M., and Temminghoff, E. J. M. (2004). “In situ metal precipitation in a zinc contaminated, aerobic sandy aquifer by means of biological sulfate reduction.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 38(14), 4002–4011.
Järup, L. (2003). “Hazards of heavy metal contamination.” Br. Med. Bull., 68(1), 167–182.
Jiang, M. Q., Jin, X. Y., Lu, X. Q., and Chen, Z. L. (2010). “Adsorption of Pb (II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) onto natural kaolinite clay.” Desalination, 252(1-3), 33–39.
Kadirvelu, K., Thamaraiselvi, K., and Namasivayam, C. (2001a). “Adsorption of Ni(II) from aqueous solution onto activated carbon prepared from coirpith.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 24(3), 497–505.
Kadirvelu, K., Thamaraiselvi, K., and Namasivayam, C. (2001b). “Removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters by adsorption onto activated carbon prepared from an agricultural solid waste.” Bioresour. Technol., 76(1), 63–65.
Kilic, E., Puig, R., Baquero, G., Font, J., Colak, S., and Gurler, D. (2011). “Environmental optimization of chromium recovery from tannery sludge using a life cycle assessment approach.” J. Hazard. Mater., 192, 393–401.
Kobya, M. (2004). “Removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by adsorption ont hazelnut shell activated carbon: Kinetic and equilibrium studies.” Bioresour. Technol., 91(3), 317–321.
Kongsuwan, A., Patnukao, P., and Pavasant, P. (2009). “Binary component sorption of Cu (II) and Pb (II) with activated carbon from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn bark.” J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 15(4), 465–470.
Koseoglu, H., and Kitis, M. (2009). “The recovery of silver from mining wastewaters using hybrid cyanidation and high-pressure membrane process.” Miner. Eng., 22(5), 440–444.
Krishnan, K. A., and Anirudhan, T. S. (2003). “Removal of cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions by steam-activated sulphurised carbon prepared from sugar-cane bagasse pith: Kinetics and equilibrium studies.” Water SA, 29(2), 147–156.
Landaburu-Aguirre, J., Pongrácz, E., Perämäk, P., and Keiski, R. L. (2010). “Micellar enhanced ultrafiltration for the removal of cadmium and zinc: Use of response surface methodology to improve understanding of process performance and optimisation.” J. Hazard. Mater., 180(1-3), 524–534.
Lee, T. Y., Park, J. W., and Lee, J. H. (2004). “Waste green sands as a reactive media for the removal of zinc from water.” Chemosphere, 56(6), 571–581.
Leyva Ramos, R., Bernal Jacome, L. A., Mendoza Barron, J., Fuentus Rubio, L., and Guerrero Coronado, R. M. (2002). “Adsorption of zinc (II) from an aqueous solution onto activated carbon.” J. Hazard. Mater., 90(1), 27–38.
Li, X., et al. (2009). “Recovery and reuse of surfactant SDS from a MEUF retentate containing or by ultrafiltration.” J. Membr. Sci., 337(1-2), 92–97.
Li, Y. H., et al. (2010). “Removal of copper from aqueous solution by carbon nanotube/calcium alginate composites.” J. Hazard. Mater., 177(1-3), 876–880.
Matlock, M. M., Howerton, B. S., and Atwood, D. A. (2002). “Chemical precipitation of heavy metals from acid mine drainage.” Water Res., 36(19), 4757–4764.
Meuiner, N., Laraoulandie, J., Blais, J. F., and Tyagi, R. D. (2003). “Cocoa shells for heavy metal removal from acidic solutions.” Bioresour. Technol., 90(3), 255–263.
Mirbagheri, S. A., and Hosseini, S. N. (2005). “Pilot plant investigation on petrochemical wastewater treatment for the removal of copper and chromium with the objective of reuse.” Desalination, 171(1), 85–93.
Monser, L., and Adhoum, N. (2002). “Modified activated carbon for the removal of copper, zinc, chromium and cyanide from wastewater.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 26(2-3), 137–146.
Mulligan, C. N., and Wang, S. (2006). “Remediation of a heavy metal-contaminated soil by a rhamnolipid foam.” Eng. Geol., 85(1-2), 75–81.
Mulligan, C. N., Yong, R. N., and Gibbs, B. F. (1999). “On the use of biosurfactants for the removal of heavy metals from oil-contaminated soil.” Environ. Prog., 18(1), 50–54.
Murthy, Z. V. P., and Chaudhari, L. B. (2008). “Application of nanofiltration for the rejection of nickel ions from aqueous solutions and estimation of membrane transport parameters.” J. Hazard. Mater., 160(1), 70–77.
Nataraj, S. K., Hosamani, K. M., and Aminabhavi, T. M. (2007). “Potential application of an electrodialysis pilot plant containing ion-exchange membranes in chromium removal.” Desalination, 217(1-3), 181–190.
Olaniran, A. O., Balgobind, A., and Pillay, B. (2009). “Impacts of heavy metals on 1, 2-dichloroethane biodegradation in co-contaminated soil.” J. Environ. Sci., 21(5), 661–666.
Olson, G. J., Brierley, J. A., and Brierley, C. L. (2003). “Bioleaching review part B: Progress in Bioleaching: Applications of microbial processes by the minerals industries.” Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 63(3), 249–257.
Park, S. J., and Jung, W. Y. (2001). “Removal of chromium by activated carbon fibers plated with copper metal.” Carbon Sci., 2(1), 15–21.
Pattanayak, J., Mondal, K., Mathew, S., and Lalvani, S. B. (2000). “A parametric evalution of the removal of As(V) and As(III) by carbon-based adsorbents.” Carbon, 38(4), 589–596.
Rai, D., Eary, L. E., and Zachara, J. M. (1989). “Environmental chemistry of chromium.” Sci. Total Environ., 86(1-2), 15–23.
Rangel-Mendez, J. R., and Streat, M. (2002). “Adsorption of cadmium by activated carbon cloth: Influence of surface oxidation and solution pH.” Water Res., 36(5), 1244–1252.
Rao, M., Parawate, A. V., and Bhole, A. G. (2002). “Removal of and from aqueous solution using bagasse and fly ash.” Waste Manage., 22(7), 821–830.
Rohwerder, T., Gehrke, T., Kinzler, K., and Sand, W. (2003). “Bioleaching review part A: Progress in Bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of bacterial metal sulfide oxidation.” Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 63(3), 239–248.
Satyawali, Y., Schols, E., Van Roy, S., Dejonghe, W., Diels, L., and Vanbroekhoven, K. (2010). “Stability investigations of zinc and cobalt precipitates immobilized by in situ bioprecipitation (ISBP) process.” J. Hazard. Mater., 181(1-3), 217–225.
Selvakumari, G., Murugesan, M., Pattabi, S., and Sathishkumar, M. (2002). “Treatment of electroplating industry effluent using maize cob carbon.” Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 69(2), 195–202.
Seth, R., Henry, G. J., and Prasad, D. (2006). “A biological process that reduces metals in municipal sludge to yield sulphur enhanced biosolids.” Environ. Technol., 27(2), 159–167.
Shim, J. W., Park, S. J., and Ryu, S. K. (2001). “Effect of modification with HNO and NaOH on metal adsorption by pitch-based activated carbon fibers.” Carbon, 39(11), 1635–1642.
Srivastava, R. C. (2003). “Guidance and awareness raising materials under new UNEP mercury programs.” 〈http://www.chem.unep.ch/MERCURY/2003-gov-sub/India-submission.pdf〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Sullivan, C., Tyrer, M., Cheeseman, C. R., and Graham, N. J. D. (2010). “Disposal of water treatment wastes containing arsenic—A review.” Sci. Total Environ., 408(8), 1770–1778.
Tjandraatmadja, G., Pollard, C., Sheedy, C., and Gozukara, Y. (2010). “Sources of contaminants in domestic wastewater: Nutrients and additional elements from household products.” 〈https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/download?pid=csiro:EP092557&dsid=DS8〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Tokuyama, H., Hisaeda, J., Nii, S., and Sakohara, S. (2010). “Removal of heavy metal ions and humic acid from aqueous solutions by co-adsorption onto thermosensitive polymers.” Sep. Purif. Technol., 71(1), 83–88.
Tyler, G., Balsberg Pahlsson, M., Bengtsson, G., Baath, E., and Tranvik, L. (1989). “Heavy metal ecology of terrestrial plants, microorganisms and invertebrates.” Water Air Soil Pollut., 47(3-4), 189–215.
U.S. EPA. (2003). “EPA and hardrock mining: A source book for industry in the northwest and Alaska Appendix E: Wastewater management.” 〈http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ WATER.NSF/840a5de5d0a8d1418825650f00715a27/e4ba15715e97ef2188256d2c00783a8e/$FILE/ATTPP9RG/appendix%20e.pdf〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
U.S. EPA. (2004). “Safe drinking water act (SDWA).” 〈http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Utmazian, M. N., and Wenzel, W. W. (2006). “Phytoextraction of metal polluted soils in Latin America.” 〈http://www.fao.org/forestry/11114-07881fab8de72bc1ae18a2f90c9367d2f.pdf〉 (Jun. 11, 2016).
Vijayaraghavan, K., and Yun, Y. S. (2008). “Bacterial biosorbents and biosorption.” Biotechnol. Adv., 26(3), 266–291.
Wang, J., and Chen, C. (2009). “Biosorbents for heavy metals removal and their future.” Biotechnol. Adv., 27(2), 195–226.
Wang, S., and Mulligan, C. (2004). “Rhamnolipid foam enhanced remediation of cadmium and nickel contaminated soil.” Water Air Soil Pollut., 157(1-4), 315–330.
Wen, Y. M., Chang, Y., Tang, C., and Chen, Z. L. (2013). “Bioleaching of heavy metals from sewage sludge using indigenous iron-oxidizing microorganisms.” J. Soils Sediments, 13(1), 166–175.
WHO (World Health Organization). (2006). “Guidelines for drinking-water quality.” 〈www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq0506.pdf〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Wikipedia. (2007). “Microbially-mediated mineral transformations.” 〈http://wiki.biomine.skelleftea.se/wiki/index.php/Microbially-mediated_mineral_transformations〉 (Aug. 27, 2013).
Wong, L., and Henry, J. G. (1983). “Bacterial leaching of heavy metals from anaerobically digested sewage sludges.” Water Pollut. Res. J. Canada, 18, 151–162.
WOU (University of Western Oregon). (2015). 〈https://www.wou.edu/las/physci/ch412/pourbaix.htm〉 (Jun. 11, 2015).
Wuana, R. A., and Okieimen, F. E. (2011). “Heavy metals in contaminated soils: A review of sources, chemistry, risks and best available strategies for remediation.” ISRN Ecol., 2011, 1–20.
Wu, G., Kang, H., Zhang, X., Shao, H., Chu, L., and Ruan, C. (2010). “A critical review on the bio-removal of hazardous heavy metals from contaminated soils: Issues, progress, eco-environmental concerns and opportunities.” J. Hazard. Mater., 174(1-3), 1–8.
Xu, Y., and Zhang, F. (2006). “Experimental research on heavy metal wastewater treatment with dipropyl dithiophosphate.” J. Hazard. Mater., 137(3), 1636–1642.
Yu, L. J., Shukla, S. S., Dorris, K. L., Shukla, A., and Margrave, J. L. (2003). “Adsorption of chromium from aqueous solutions by maple sawdust.” J. Hazard. Mater., 100(1-3), 53–63.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Green Technologies for Sustainable Water Management
Pages: 579 - 614
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jul 1, 2016
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.