Adsorption of Lead from wastewater on Pakistani bentonites

Abstract

Lead and lead compounds are generally noxious pollutants. Lead contamination from a variety of industrial sources pose a significant environmental threat to receiving waters and its presence causes contagion of plants and then through nutritional chain it affects the health of humans and animals. The present study undertakes the efficiency of natural bentonites taken from various areas of Pakistan for removal of lead from wastewater. The batch adsorption study was applied to remove this toxic metal. The quantities of lead metal before and after the treatment of standard solutions with different samples of bentonite were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopic method. The studies were carried out at room temperature, pH 7 and -200 mesh particle size using 50ml of metal solutions. The time taken to maintain equilibrium was one hour. Then percentage adsorption was calculated for different bentonite samples.