Biosorption Processes for Heavy Metal Removal

Persistent and non-degradable, heavy metals stand as pollutants with the potential for severe ecological repercussions when released into the environment. Municipal and industrial wastewater face a high risk of contamination by these hazardous substances, posing a formidable challenge to water treatment technologies. The imperative is clear: effective and affordable methods for effluent treatment and metal recovery are essential for meeting regulatory standards and unlocking the latent value of valuable metals within the waste. However, new methods of accomplishing this challenge are necessary for increasing the effectiveness in both cost and application. Biosorption Processes for Heavy Metal Removal comprehensively explores the imperative to remove heavy metals from waste streams. It provides an insightful overview of biosorbents and biosorption technology, focusing on their underlying biosorption features. Biosorption, an intrinsic property of living and deceased biomass, is a crucial mechanism for the swift binding and concentration of organic and inorganic compounds from dilute aqueous solutions. In wastewater treatment, biosorption involves utilizing biosorbents derived from non-living biomass to extract target substances from polluted water selectively. Harnessing microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, yeasts, and fungi as biosorbents for heavy metal removal has gained traction due to their advantageous characteristics, including a high surface-to-volume ratio, widespread availability, rapid kinetics of adsorption and desorption, and low cost. The compilation within this book comprises of a series of review articles delving into the current understanding of biosorption mechanisms and biochemistry, the efficacy of bacterial, fungal, and algal biomass, and practical considerations for biosorbent preparation and engineering. The physicochemical evaluations of biosorbents, process optimization, and factors influencing biosorption efficiency are also covered. Furthermore, the book explores biosorption applications for removing nutrients, organic pollutants, and metals in wastewater treatment across diverse contexts. Geared towards administrators, policymakers, consultants, industry professionals, academicians, scientists, researchers, and graduate and post-graduate students in environmental sciences and related fields, this book serves as their comprehensive reference. It caters to a broad spectrum of fields, including environmental safety engineering, and research and development programs focused on advancing biosorption research and developing industrial applications for heavy metal separation technologies. Wastewater treatment plant operators, those involved in sludge treatment and disposal, and researchers and students in environmental engineering will also find this book to be of significant interest.