| Title |
Nutshells as Efficient Biosorbents to Remove Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Contaminated Solutions |
| ID_Doc |
9483 |
| Authors |
Dias, M; Pinto, J; Henriques, B; Figueira, P; Fabre, E; Tavares, D; Vale, C; Pereira, E |
| Title |
Nutshells as Efficient Biosorbents to Remove Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Contaminated Solutions |
| Year |
2021 |
| Published |
International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 18.0, 4 |
| DOI |
10.3390/ijerph18041580 |
| Abstract |
The release of potentially toxic elements into the environment, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems still present a real threat. To avoid such contamination, the use of biological sorbents as an alternative to conventional and expensive water remediation techniques has been proposed. The present study evaluated the potential of 0.5 g L-1 of peanut, hazelnut, pistachio, walnut, and almond shells to remove the requisite concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) from contaminated water. Hazelnut shells were identified as the sorbent with the highest potential and were evaluated in mono- and multi-contaminated mineral water. The influence of sorbent-intrinsic and solution-intrinsic characteristics were assessed. Differences among sorbents were attributed to varying percentages of their main components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Matrix complexity increase caused a decrease in Cd removal, presumably due to the diminution in electrostatic interaction, and complexation with anions such as Cl-. When simultaneously present in the solution, contaminants competed, with Pb showing higher affinity to the sorbent than Hg. High efficiencies (>90%) obtained for hazelnut shells for all elements in ultrapure water and for Pb and Hg in mineral water) reveals the high potential of this low-cost and abundant waste for use in the remediation of contaminated waters (circular economy). |
| Author Keywords |
water remediation; food wastes; nutshells; heavy metals; contamination |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) |
| EID |
WOS:000623570200001 |
| WoS Category |
Environmental Sciences; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health |
| Research Area |
Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health |
| PDF |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1580/pdf?version=1612770323
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