Comparative Review of Different Adsorption Techniques Used in Heavy Metals Removal in Water

Abstract

The rising shortage of water resources and the need to provide water in many regions like Morocco around the world has been crucial and will become increasingly alarming in the future. Water bodies can be practically polluted or impaired by industrial, agricultural, and anthropogenic waste. Heavy metals are widely known environmental contaminants due to their toxicity, prevalence, and bioaccumulation. They build up in the environment, disrupting the food chains as chronic pollutants. In organisms, including humans, the deposition of possibly hazardous heavy metals poses a significant threat to health. This review paper highlights the present research on heavy metal removal, focusing on adsorbents and techniques accessible and feasible, such as adsorptive separation by substances, including a metal oxide, graphene, zeolite, and carbon-based composites. These techniques received a lot of acknowledgment due to their significant active surface area, high proportion of functional groups, increased chemical and thermal stability, and impressive adsorption efficiency and efficacy. The economic aspects and feasibility of adsorbents have also been presented.