HEAVY METALS, CONVENTIONAL METHODS FOR HEAVY METAL REMOVAL, BIOSORPTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW COST ADSORBENT

Dr. Naveen Chandra Joshi*

ABSTRACT

The heavy metal pollutants include lead, cadmium, zinc, mercury, arsenic, silver, chromium, copper, iron and platinum group of metals arises from the natural and anthropogenic activities in the nature. Various methods cited in the literature for the removal of heavy metals from waste water are chemical precipitation, ultra filtration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, electro winning, carbon adsorption, phytoremediation and biosorption. Among these biosorption is relatively new and efficient method for the heavy metal removal. The present paper is a review of literature on various aspects of biosorption. An attempt has been made to cover the literature and introduction of heavy metals, conventional methods for heavy metal removal and recent studies on biosorption.

Keywords: Heavy metals, sources, removal methods, biosorption, low cost adsorbents.