1.

Introduction
2. Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements with high molecularmass and density that
is at least 5 times larger than that of water. The numerousdomestic, agricultural, industrial,
medical, and technological uses and applications of such have prompted to its wide dispersal in
the environment thus, raising alarms over their possible effects on human health and the
environment [8]. Examples of heavy metals are arsenic, copper, cadmium, iron, mercury,
leadand zinc [7].

Toxicity of heavy metals depend on numerous factors which includes the route of
exposure,dose, and chemical species, along with the age, genetics, gender, and nutritional status
of individuals exposed to it. This just implies that such amount of heavy metals might be perilous
to some however are ended up being beneficial to others simply because we additionally need
certain measures of some heavy metals, such as copper and iron, in our body. Notwithstanding,
in light of their high level of toxicity or the poisonous quality, arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, and mercury rank among the priority metals of high public health implication since these
elements are said to be systemic toxicants known to probably induce various organ damage, even
at lower levels of exposure [8].

As per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for
Research on Cancer, heavy metals are likewise considered as human carcinogens [8]. Be that as
it may, these elements are apparentin the water we drink, in the products we use every day, andin
the ground we walk in, only at its lowest level [7]. With higher amounts of elements contained in
the products utilized for daily happenings, heavy metal poisoning can occur and the elements can
accumulate in the soft and delicate tissues of the body. As what is specified above, there are
some heavy metals such as iron andcopper which are needed in the body. These similarly include
chromium,manganese, andzinc, yet on the off chance that they aggregate in the body in
concentrations adequate to cause poisoning, then results may be fatal [6]. These are the reasons
why heavy metal must be removed in the foods we eat and in the items that we use because of
their possibilities for human exposure, molecular mechanisms of toxicity, genotoxicity, and
carcinogenicity.

3. Methods in the Removal of Heavy Metals

Metals are frequently toxic and harmful, generally present in household and industrial
wastewaters. Precipitation forms large amounts of solid sludge for disposal; the metal hydroxide
sludge which results from the treatment of electroplating wastewater has been named as a
hazardous waste. These conventional approaches are ineffective for the removal of heavy metals
with low concentrations [4].Thus, there are moretechniques available for the treatment and
removal of heavy metals. The commonly used techniques for the removal of heavy metals from
aqueous streams and wastewater consist of the following:

3. 1 Solvent extraction

Solvent extraction is endorsed as a suitable technique for the removal of heavy metals from the
waste waters of the electronic and chemical industriesparticularly as to low energy consumption
and the likelihood of a continuous operation.Specific metals can be attained either in a mixture,
or distinctly in the required purity. Common extractants are organic compounds with molar mass
200-450, relatively insoluble in water (5-50 ppm), that specifically extract metals from aqueous
solutions. The extraction conditions are comprehended to mean the kind of extractant, anion
present in the aqueous phase, and pH. Heavy metals can be removed by common extractants
(acid, basic, or neutral), and probably mixtures thereof. Extraction is typically carried out in a
battery of mixer-settlers, the number of stages (4 to 20) and the volume of a stage (0.1 to1.0 m3)
being reliant on the metal, its toxicity andconcentration, and on the amount of the waste water to
be dealt with.A disadvantage of thistechnique is the increase of the salinity in the treated water.
This must be considered in the design of the operating settings, to keep the concentrations of
salts below the acceptable limit [3].
3.2. Chemical precipitation

Chemical precipitation through neutralization and addition of peroxide can be used in treating
acid mine drainage (AMD) [5], but unfortunately, have major drawbacks which includes the
large amounts of lime and peroxide and expensive sludge disposal fees. For the removal of heavy
metals in AMD, 1,3-benzenediamidoethanethiol dianion (BDET) was used which has been
established to selectively and irrevocably fix soft heavy metals from aqueous solution and was
found to remove more than 90% of several toxic or heavy metals from AMD. Its ability to reduce
the concentration of the heavy metals from the acidic waters directly from the mine accentuates
the compound’s possible use as a treatment reagent. Because of the excellent stability of the
precipitates under oxidative and pH conditions, BDET can be utilized as an additive to reduce
metal concentrations being discharged. A major benefit of using the ligand is in the reduction of
metal waste produced during current treatment methods. The necessity for acid neutralization
with some kind of base (probably lime) will still exist; however, the quantity needed, and the
produced secondary wastes would be meaningfully less [5]. This technique is not advisable
particularly where complexchemical compounds are involved, and economic recovery is
concerned [1].
3.3. Electrodialysis

Electrodialysis is a separation method that does the deionization of water streams by utilizing a
series of ion-exchange membranes bound by two electrodes, and the driving force which is a
direct current electrical potential gradient. This technique can work in a batch, semi batch, or
continuous mode. A study, concerned with the removal of CdCl2, and CdSO4, from water using
electrodialysis, examined the effects of electrolyte concentration, electrolyte type, temperature,
pH, and elapsed time of membrane usage upon membrane stack resistance and current efficiency
[2].The results exhibited that cadmium removal has excellent current efficiencies and reasonable
stack resistances over an extensive variety of CdCl2 and CdSO4 concentrations. Generally,
current efficiencies are revealed to diminish as the electrolyte concentration gradient increases
between the concentrate and dilute compartments. It has been established that stack resistance is
basically a function of the electrolyte concentration in the dilute compartments. Moreover, a
reduction in dilute stream pH and an increase in stream temperature decreases both stack
resistances and current efficiencies involved in Cd2+ removal. Thus, pH and temperature can be
utilized as optimization variables for electrodialysis processes for heavy metal removal and/or
concentration.However, at some operating conditions for electrodialysis, except for the removal
of heavy metals at very low concentrations; polarization did not appear to be present to any
significant extent [2].
3.4 Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration (UF) utilizes permeable membrane which separates heavy metals and
suspended solids from an inorganic solution on the basis of pore size ranging from 5 to 20 nm.
Studies show 90% estimated adsorption capacity of ultrafiltration to heavy metals [9]. A new
ultrafiltration technology based on polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration was recently investigated.
The water-soluble polymer enhances the rejection of solute by binding to the heavy metals. The
heavy metals are attached to the water-soluble matrix to form macromolecules metal-coordinated
compounds which can be easily separated from water. This new technology displays high
efficiency in the removal of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) reaching 97 to 99% rejection at a low
concentration of the polymer [10]. Water-soluble polymer contains powerful substances that
remove trace metals from aqueous solution and industrial water through membrane processes.
Low energy requirement, very fast reaction kinetics and higher selectivity of bonding agents are
the main advantages of this technology, making it more viable to use in the adsorption of metal
[9].
3.5. Ion Exchange
Ion exchange is the most common and effective process in terms of water purification
and removal of hazardous substances at low concentrations in the industrial scale. The method is
technologically simple and it establishes efficient removal of even traces of impurities from a
solution [11]. It can be easily recovered and reused by regeneration operation. Ion exchange has
the ability to overcome some problems encountered by other adsorption processes involving
heavy metals [12]. This process uses an ion exchange resin which is responsible to the
adsorption of heavy metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, cadmium, zinc and aluminum [13].
Resins are a variety of different type of exchange materials which are categorized into natural or
synthetic resins. Studies show that strong cation-exchange resin performed well in the adsorption
of Cu (II) and Zn (III) from synthetic rinsewater in electroplating industries [12].
3.6 Reverse Osmosis
3.7. Adsorption

4. Adsorption
Adsorption is a process or method where the atoms, molecules or ions of dissolved solids
from liquid holds on the surface ofthe solid; i.e. it is a mass transferprocess in which the
dissolved solid from the liquid gets placed on the surface of the solid because of the physical or
chemical contact[14]. Application-wise, the method is extensively used in the removal of heavy
metals for wastewater treatment.The key factors of this method are the methodological
applicability and the cost efficiency that needs to be taken into consideration while selecting the
appropriate adsorbent to treat wastewater [15]. Adsorbents are of various types and can be more
classified as natural materials (zeolites) and agricultural wastes (charcoal).
4.1. Adsorption using Zeolites
Adsorption is viewed to be cost-effective if low-cost sorbents like zeolites are utilized.
Zeolites are naturally occurring hydrated aluminosilicate minerals. They are from the class of
minerals which is known as “tectosilicates.” Most common natural zeolites are produced by
modification of glass rich-volcanic rocks (tuff) with fresh water in playa lakes or by saltwater
[16]. On the other hand, artificialor synthetic zeolites are exceptionallysuitable and promising for
adsorption purposes as well, because of their porous structure. The main advantages of these
kinds of zeolites are the selectivity of the ion exchange, high phase purity, exceptional thermal
stability and great resistance to chemical agents [17].
The structures of zeolites are made up of three-dimensional frameworks of SiO4 and
AlO4 tetrahedra. The aluminum ion is adequately small to dwell in the position in the middle of
the tetrahedron of four oxygen atoms, and the isomorphous replacement of Si4+ by Al3+gives a
negative charge in the lattice. The net negative charge is composedand balanced by the
exchangeable cation (potassium, sodium, or calcium). These cations are interchangeable with
specific cations in solutions such as cadmium, lead, manganese and zinc. The way that zeolite
exchangeable ions are moderatelyharmless (calcium, sodium, and potassium ions) makes them
predominantly suitable for removing undesirable and unwanted heavy metal ions from industrial
waste waters [16], [17].
Table 1 presents the percentage of several metals adsorbed by natural zeolite, specifically
Clinoptilolite.
Table 1
Heavy Metal Absorption Percentage of Zeolite
Metal % adsorption
Cadmium 31.5
Copper 74.9
Nickel 27.5
Lead 99.6
Zinc 59.2
Source: Shaheen, et al. 2012

4.2. Adsorption using Activated Carbons

Adsorption has ended up being economical and effective for removing organic pollutants,
heavy metals, and dyes from contaminated waters. Numerous adsorbents such as silica, activated
carbon, and graphene can be utilized in the decontamination of water. Activated carbon has
revealed to be an effective adsorbent for the removal of an extensive variety of organic and
inorganic contaminants present in the aquatic setting. As a result of its high surface regions
which range from 500 to 1500 m2, it is extensively utilized in the treatment of wastewaters. The
efficiency of activated carbon in cleaning up contaminated water is because of its well-developed
porosity structure along with the presence of a wide range of surface functional groups. This
makes it capable of spreading and distributing pollutants on its huge internal surface, making
them accessible to reactants [18]. Finally, experimental studies display an estimated adsorption
percentage of up to 90% heavy metal removal.
Table 2 presents the percentage of several metals, at 30 ppm initial concentration,
adsorbed by activated charcoal.
Table 2
Heavy Metal Absorption Percentage of Activated Charcoal
Metal % adsorption
Cadmium 86
Chromium 50.6
Nickel 90
Lead 83
Zinc 83.6
Source: Karnib, et al. 2014

4.3. Adsorption using Silica

Wastewater in different industries including metallurgical, tannery, chemical
manufacturing and mining contains large amount of toxic heavy metals. Silica aerogels are novel
mesoporous materials having excellent properties such as low bulk density, continuous
porosities, high specific surface area and extremely low thermal conductivity. The use of silica or
silicic acid as adsorbent is widely known for its polar characteristics, large adsorption capacity,
relative activity and easy preparation. Due to its unique properties and characteristics, silica is a
material that can act as super-thermal insulators, adsorbents and catalytic supports [19].
 Table 3 presents the adsorption percentage of several metals adsorbed by mesoporous
silica [20].
Table 3
Heavy Metal Absorption Percentage of Silica
Metal % adsorption
Cadmium 32.3
Copper 36.3
Lead 58.5
Source: Zhu, et al. 2017

5. Conclusion
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