Recent trends in heavy metal removal technologies from water: Mechanisms and Advancements

Abstract

The relentless pace of industrial growth, due to the direct result of the population boom, has consistently spawned consequential and often unmanageable issues, such as the pervasive problem of the release of toxic heavy metals into water. Among today’s most critical environmental issues, heavy metal pollution has emerged as a severe problem. The predominant characteristic of heavy metals is their toxicity, exceptional solubility in aquatic environments, and their ions persist without biodegradation, which causes a specific worry regarding their potential accumulation within the human body through the food chain. The exposure of people and the environment to these toxic metals results in severe health problems. Additionally, utilizing treated wastewater is the sole method for finding a fresh water source. The elimination of heavy metal ions from wastewater takes precedence in order to uphold a clean environment and the well-being of people. A diverse array of approaches has been devised and put into practice in the treatment of wastewater, aiming to reduce heavy metal concentra tions. These technologies cover membrane filtration, flotation, coagula tion and flocculation, chemical precipitation, electrochemical processes, ion exchange, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and adsorption. Within this review, we present a detailed examination of important solution techniques that are necessary for discerning workable and easily implementable wastewater treatment solutions for elimination of heavy metals, thorough analysis of the methodologies, their mechanisms, sustainability, and their overall efficiency. Additionally, this article delves into the latest advancements and an array of approaches utilized for the elimi nation of heavy metals from wastewater by giving examples of pilot-scale processes used in some cases. It offers an insightful look into the ongoing commitment and technological breakthroughs that strive for more effective heavy metal removal and resource recovery from industrial wastewater. Also, it examines various drawbacks and constraints in implementing these methods.