Use of natural by-products or waste for effluents' decontamination.

Laboratory studies have been undertaken of the use of agricultural and food processing by-products to decontaminate synthetic solutions, urban water and industrial effluents. The separation of pollutants depended on the type of organic substrate used, initial concentration and nature of pollutants and pH. It was found possible to recover 20-99% of pollutants present in solution in less than 30 mins. The retention capacity of organic substrates varied from 0.12 to 4.36 mole/kg of dry substrate. The interaction between the organic substrate and the metal ions was mainly controlled by an ion exchange mechanism. The processes could be used before or after conventional effluent treatment technology. In some cases, incineration or pyrolysis of the saturated substrate generated residues rich enough to be recycled in secondary metal production units. The energy consumption of the proposed process is about 0.3 kWh/m3. Capital and operating costs are low as the process flowsheet is simple.
Laboratory studies have been undertaken of the use of agricultural and food processing by-products to decontaminate synthetic solutions, urban water and industrial effluents. The separation of pollutants depended on the type of organic substrate used, initial concentration and nature of pollutants and pH. It was found possible to recover 20-99% of pollutants present in solution in less than 30 mins. The retention capacity of organic substrates varied from 0.12 to 4.36 mole/kg of dry substrate. The interaction between the organic substrate and the metal ions was mainly controlled by an ion exchange mechanism. The processes could be used before or after conventional effluent treatment technology. In some cases, incineration or pyrolysis of the saturated substrate generated residues rich enough to be recycled in secondary metal production units. The energy consumption of the proposed process is about 0.3 kWh/m3. Capital and operating costs are low as the process flowsheet is simple.