Reduction of toxic elements in marine environment using nano adsorbent materials

Abstract

Due to large scale industrialisation and indiscriminate discharge of effluents with high BOD, sulphuric acid, oil, toxic metals and particulate matter reach the aquatic environment, either directly or indirectly. Living organisms consist less than one percent of heavy metals, and their different density cause to some disorders. Surface waters and also acidic rains can transfer these metals to oceans via washing polluted environment. Heavy metals naturally exist in very little amount in watery places. Metal pollution of the sea is less than other types of water pollution but its effects on marine ecosystems and humans are very extensive. Industrial wastes in aquaculture because toxic effects in aquatic organisms especially in fishes. Aquatic organisms absorb the pollutants directly from water and indirectly from food chains. Some of the toxic effects of heavy metals on fishes and aquatic invertebrates are; reduction of the developmental growth, increase of developmental anomalies, reduction of fishes survival- especially at the beginning of exogenous feeding or even cause extinction of entire fishes population in polluted reservoirs. The objective of this project is to investigate the heavy metals in industrial effluents and reducing it by using Nano Adsorbent of Vetiveriazizanioides. This method is more efficient than any other method for reducing heavy metals from industrial effluents, because it is biodegradable. The results obtained from this attempt shows that heavy metals reduction by this Nano adsorbent is in the range of decreases like Hg > As > Cd > Pb.