Electrolytic recovery of dilute copper from a mixed industrial effluent of high strength COD

Recent trends in removal and recovery of heavy metals from wastewater by electrochemical technologies

Heavy metal-laden water and wastewater pose a threat to biodiversity, including human health. Contaminated wastewater can be treated with several separation and purification methods. Among them, electrochemical treatment is a notable clean technology, versatile and environmentally compatible for the removal and recovery of inorganic pollutants from water and wastewater. Electrochemical technology provides solution for the recovery of metals in their most valuable state. This paper analyses the most recent electrochemical approaches for the removal and recovery of metal ions. Various current works involving cell design and electrode development were addressed in distinguished electrochemical processes, namely, electrodeposition, electrocoagulation, electroflotation, and electrosorption. Cathodic reduction of metal ions has been proven in result to metal deposit on the metal, metal oxide, stainless steel, and graphite electrode. However, little progress has been made toward electrode modification, particularly the cathode for the purpose of cathodic reduction and deposition. Meanwhile, emerging advanced materials, such as ionic liquids, have been presented to be prominent to the technological advancement of electrode modifications. It has been projected that by integrating different priorities into the design approach for electrochemical reactors and recent electrode developments, several insights can be obtained that will contribute toward the enhancement of the electrochemical process performance for the effective removal and recovery of heavy metals from water and wastewater in the near future.

Adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions using titanate nanotubes prepared via hydrothermal method

Titanate nanotubes (TNs) with specific surface areas of 272.31 m(2)g(-1) and pore volumes of 1.264 cm(3)g(-1) were synthesized by alkaline hydrothermal method. The TNs were investigated as adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. The FT-IR analysis indicated that Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption were mainly ascribed to the hydroxyl groups in the TNs. Batch experiments were conducted by varying contact time, pH and adsorbent dosage. It was shown that the initial uptake of each metal ion was very fast in the first 5 min, and adsorption equilibrium was reached after 180 min. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) were found to be maximum at pH in the range of 5.0-6.0. The adsorption kinetics of both metal ions followed the pseudo-second-order model. Equilibrium data were best fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) were determined to be 520.83 and 238.61 mg g(-1), respectively. Moreover, more than 80% of Pb(II) and 85% of Cd(II) adsorbed onto TNs can be desorbed with 0.1M HCl after 3h. Thus, TNs were considered to be effective and promising materials for the removal of both Pb(II) and Cd(II) from wastewater.