Abstract
Heavy metal pollution of water bodies is a serious environmental problem, especially in developingcountries. The search for environmentally friendly and efficient adsorbents for water purificationhas been the subject of extensive research. The research examined the possibility of using cheapand renewable silkworm cocoon waste as potential adsorbents for rainwater pollution. The wastecocoons of the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) came from the Institute of Natural Fibres andMedicinal Plants - National Research Institute (IWNiRZ-PIB) in Poznań. Rainwater was collected froma galvanised drain pipe that drains water from a felt roof, located in the city of Tychy. It was shownthat rainwater contained many micropollutants including alkanes, esters and carboxylic acids. Theadsorbent was characterised by high adsorption capacity of the micropollutants under study. Therewas a 70% removal of neadecanoic acids and a 90% removal of esters. The silkworm cocoon was alsofound to have considerable efficiency in the removal of zinc from rainwater at a level of 61–90% (dosefrom 2g/L to 10g/L). The lowest dose allows zinc removal below the value standardised according to theregulation. The adsorption time needed to establish equilibrium was short and amounted to 20 min.
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