Peat as Sorbent for Cu2+ and Cr3+ Ions

Abstract

Peat as Sorbent for Cu2+and Cr3+IonsHeavy metals as trace elements can often be found in industrial waste waters, and their discharge to the environment is a significant threat due to their acute toxicity to the aquatic and terrestrial life. The common methods used for removal of toxic metals and trace elements from the municipal and industrial waste waters are based on their adsorption onto insoluble compounds - sorbents. Synthetic sorbents usually are quite expensive; therefore, as a prospective approach to the metal removal, the use of a natural sorbent - peat - was tested. Peat as sorbent was proved to have a relatively high sorption capacity in respect to the studied metal ions, it can be used batchwise and in a dynamic regime and is a relatively robust and reliable sorbent regarding pH, the ionic strength, and the amounts of sorbed metal.