19 - Removal of lead ions from water and wastewaters electrochemically

Abstract

Lead (Pb2+) poisoning is a type of metal poisoning and a medical condition in humans and other vertebrates caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Pb2+ poisoning is toxic to many organs and tissues (the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems). This paper presents a report on the removal of Pb2+ from water, typical and synthetic industrial wastewaters. Water and Wastewaters containing Pb2+were prepared and subjected to electrochemically at various factors. Effects of these factors (time, current, concentration of Pb2+etc.) on the performance of the treatment process were evaluated based on ability to remove Pb2+ from the aqueous solutions. The effectiveness of the process in removing Pb2+ from typical industrial wastewaters (textile, brewery, tannery, and pharmaceutical) were evaluated and compared with chemical treatment processes (chlorination and precipitation). The study revealed that time (F20,4 = 19.589; p = 1.08 × 10−16); Space between the electrodes (F10,2 = 15.821; p = 0.0008) current (F24,4 = 277.963; p = 1.01 × 10−19); coions (F10,5 = 10.214; p = 0.0011) and concentration of Pb2+ (F20,5 = 8.069; p = 0.000265) were significant factors in Pb2+ removal electrochemically at 95% confidence level. Pb2+ was removed to 100% at 5 h treatment time. Effects of pH of the solution (F24,6 = 2.029; p = 0.1008) were found to be not significant at all level. Pb2+ removal using electrochemical was found to be effective and economical compared to other treatment processes used. The study concluded that the treatment technique is effective in removing lead ion concentration from both typical and synthetic industrial wastewaters and is promising in metal recovery techniques.