Assessment of the use of tropical peats as local alternative materials for the adsorption of Pb, Zn and Cd: An equilibrium study

Author(s)

Raimondi, Isabela Monici ^[1] ; Silvestre Rodrigues, Valeria Guimaraes ^[1] ; Lima, Jacqueline Zanin ^[1] ; Marques, Jessica Pelinsom ^[1] ; Artimonte Vaz, Luiz Augusto ^[2] ; Vieira, Eny Maria ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, Dept Geotech Engn, 400 Trabalhador Sao Carlense Ave, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] Cronos Consultoria, 911 Jose Vaz de Camargo Rd, BR-15993028 Matao - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Inst Chem, 400 Trabalhador Sao Carlense Ave, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: EARTH SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL; v. 25, n. 1, p. 29-40, MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Peat is an organic material that has been widely used as an efficient and low-cost adsorbent. As many studies tend to focus on temperate peals, there is a lack of knowledge about the adsorption mechanism of tropical peals. This paper investigates the use of two Brazilian peats (Cravinhos - C and Luis Antonio - LA) from the Mogi-Guacu river basin for the adsorption of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd), in order to contribute to the use of local and easy access materials to remediate contaminated sites. The peats adsorbed a high percentage of cations, especially Pb cations (100.0-46.3%), with commercial peat C showing higher adsorption than peat LA. The removal order was Pb2+ > Cd2+ >= Zn2+ for C and Pb2+ > Zn2+ > Cd2+ for LA. The batch data for both peats and for all metals were better fit by the Langmuir isotherm, with adsorption capacities (q(m)) for Pb, Zn, and Cd of 37.3134, 29.0674 and 21.2890 mmol kg(-1) in peat C and 21.7391, 14.2550 and 3.6460 mmol kg(-1) in LA, respectively, values comparable to those of other pests and biosorbents. The studied peats are considered efficient, alternative and low-cost adsorptive materials for these metals. The proximity of peatlands to areas with high potential for contamination necessitates the use of local materials to reduce remediation costs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/02529-4 - Geological-geotechnical characterization of reactive organic materials to be used in the retention of potentially toxic metals
• Grantee: Jacqueline Zanin Lima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 14/07180-7 - Study of the soil contamination degree in the area of the former mining plant Plumbum (Adrianópolis, PR) due to the disposal of mining waste
• Grantee: Valéria Guimarães Silvestre Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/17894-2 - Geological and geotechnical characterization of mixtures of residual soil from Eldorado Paulista (SP) with reactive organic materials
• Grantee: Jéssica Pelinsom Marques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master