Various kinds of methods are currently used for the treatment of polluted aqueous
effluents; the most important are chemical precipitation, electrochemical treatment, ion exchange
and adsorption [1,2]. But, many of these methods are not economically feasible even for smallscale
industries, because require additional reagents or generate secondary wastes.
Retention of pollutants on solid adsorbents is an effective method which can be used for
the removal of heavy metals and oil products from wastewaters, in special when the utilized
adsorbent is not very expensive [3]. From this perspective, natural materials which are available
in large quantities or certain waste products from industrial or agricultural activities may have
potential as inexpensive sorbents.
The peat moss is one example of such low-const sorbents which can be utilized for the
removal of heavy metals and oil products from aqueous effluents [4,5]. The peat moss is a
complex material, obtained by partial degradation of vegetables, which has major constituents:
cellulose, lignin and humic compounds [2]. Due to those components with long hydrocarbon
chains and different polar groups (such as carboxylic, phenolic, alcoholic, etheric, etc.), the peat
moss has an accentuated hydrophobic character, compatible with the structure of oil products,
and can also bind metal ions from aqueous solution.
In this study, we have investigated the effectiveness of peat moss as adsorbent for the
removal of some heavy metals (Pb(II), Co(II), Ni(II)) and oil products (oil, gasoline, and diesel)
from aqueous media. The influence of various experimental parameters (initial solution pH, peat
dose, contact time, temperature, viscosity, initial concentration, etc.) was considered. The data
obtained from experiments of a single-component adsorption were analyzed using
thermodynamic and kinetics models. The studied adsorbent showed high efficiency and good
selectivity for studied heavy metals and oil products and was evaluated for the removal of these
pollutants from wastewaters samples.
References:
[1] Babel, S.; Krniavan, T. A. In: J. Hazard. Mater., 2003, B 97, 219 – 243.
[2] Coupal, B.; Spiff, A. I. In: Wat. Res., 1999, 33(2), 1071 – 1076.
[3] Gogate, P. R.; Pandit, A. B. In: Advanced Environ. Res., 2004, 8, 553 – 597.
[4] Cojocaru, C. et al. In: Process optimization, J. Environ. Prot. Ecol., 2006, 7(2), 397-406.
[5] Bulgariu, L.; Robu, B.; Macoveanu, M. In: Rev. de Chimie, 2008, 60(2), 171-179.