Best of advanced remediation process: treatment of heavy metals in water using phosphate materials

Abstract

ABSTRACT The presence of heavy metals pollutants in the environment has become of major concern in the last decades. In developing countries, inappropriate water and wastewater treatment, combined with increased industrial activity, leads to increased contamination of water resources by heavy metals. However, common methods of removing heavy metals from water sources are not available for the world over. Among the most efficient advanced remediation processes, adsorption is widely considered to be one of the most effective methods for treating a wide variety of heavy metals contaminants in aqueous systems. As a result, much research has focused on the use of low-cost adsorbents for heavy metal removal. In this paper, we review the current state of heavy metal removal research, focusing on the least expensive adsorbents, particularly to treat various heavy metal contaminants in aqueous systems. This review article evaluates the use of adsorption process with phosphate-based materials in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater with emphasis on the fundamental characteristics (physicochemical and mineralogical) of the phosphate. The effects of heavy metals on environment and human health are also discussed.