REMOVAL OF POTENTIALLY TOXIC METALS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING TETRA PAK INDUSTRIAL WASTE AS BIOSORBENTS

Abstract

Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) contamination in the water bodies had been a worldwide challenge. Industrialization and anthropogenic activities have produce and discharge wastes comprising organic and inorganic pollutants into the water resources making them hazardous and threatening human health and the environment. Packaging technology for food and beverages such as juices, milk, and other liquids using paper packets, generally known as Tetra Pak, has resulted in the generation of too much waste in the world in recent decades. On the one hand, it appears that the building of composites from Tetra Pak trash allows for maximum recycling of these materials, while on the other hand, the inclusion of Kraft paper, Al, and polyethylene in the packet composition can improve the functional features of the goods. Tetra pak packaging is comprised of three different types of raw materials: cellulose (75 %), low density polyethylene (LDPE) (20 %), and aluminium (5 %).The present research aimed to assess the potential of Tetra Pak industrial waste as biosorbents to remove PTMs such as lead (Pb), Nickle (Ni), and Copper (Cu) from PTMs-artificial contaminated water. Approximately, 0.05 mg/L concentration for Ni, 0.027 mg/L for Pb, and 0.05 mg/L for Cu were artificially added in the water bodied to assess the adsorption efficacy amended with two samples of waste Tetra Pak OTP (sample product1) and DOTP (sample product 2) as biosorbents. The obtained results showed that the maximum Ni adsorption recovery was received by (83 % with DOTP), Pb 52 % with OTP and Cu 32 % with OTP as bio-sorbent amendments. Overall, the present study indicated that the remove of PTMs from dilute aqueous solutions and using industrial waste material as easily available and low-cost sorbent, that can be successfully used to remove pollutants from multi-metal polluted water.