Title:

REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM WASTE WATER USING LOW-COST ADSORBENTS

Author:

Arvind Kumar, Dr. Munesh Kumar

Abstract:

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have significantly increased the discharge of heavy metals into water bodies, posing serious environmental and public health risks. Conventional wastewater treatment methods for heavy metal removal are often expensive and generate secondary pollutants. In recent years, the use of low-cost adsorbents derived from agricultural waste, industrial by-products, and natural materials has gained considerable attention as an economical and sustainable alternative. This research paper reviews and analyzes the effectiveness of various low-cost adsorbents such as activated carbon from agricultural waste, fly ash, rice husk ash, sawdust, and biochar for the removal of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel from wastewater. The adsorption mechanisms, influencing parameters, and comparative performance of different adsorbents are discussed. The study highlights that low-cost adsorbents can achieve significant removal efficiencies, making them suitable for practical wastewater treatment applications.

Keyword:

Heavy metals, wastewater treatment, adsorption, low-cost adsorbents, sustainable water management