Heavy Metals Removal from Wastewater by Using Activated Peat

Abstract

The processes used to remove heavy metals from inorganic wastewater have in general low efficiency. The use of activated peat obtained by using a process similar to a cation exchange reaction increases the removal efficiency up to five times when compared with peat “in natura”. The main objective of this work is to show the fundamental mathematical model, governed by diffusion process and the algorithms utilized to design the batch and the continuous feed stirred tank reactors or in some cases a fixed bed reactor. The principal dimensions of these equipments are obtained from the knowledge of the activated peat's cation exchange capacity used in the process, and the main chemical characteristics of the heavy metal ion contained in the wastewater. Besides, two important parameters are also included: the ion concentration and the efficiency of the process obtained from laboratory kinetics experiments. For example Pb+2 is removed l:rom a wastewater at a concentration of 50g/m3 in five minutes or less, with an efficiency of 98%.