Current Status of Heavy Metal Contaminants and Their Removal/Recovery Techniques
Manavi Yadav, Radhika Gupta, Gunjan Arora, Priya Yadav, Anju Srivastava, Rakesh Kumar Sharma
Abstract
Remediation of heavy metal–contaminated aqueous systems has always been a subject of broad interest. Apart from geogenic sources, numerous anthropogenic activities have contributed toward the deterioration of various water resources. The nonbiodegradable nature of these noxious metals has led to bioaccumulation in food chains, raising severe ecological and global public health concerns. Various water purification technologies, namely physical, chemical, and biological, have been established to provide compelling solutions. The present chapter discusses current methodologies used for the removal/recovery of heavy metal contaminants. These methodologies include adsorption, chemical precipitation, membrane processes, ion exchange, electrocoagulation, solvent extraction, and more. All these techniques are effective in remediation of heavy metals, however selecting an appropriate technique for remediation of water at a certain site remains challenging.