Adsorbent from waste tires as activated carbon for removal of heavy metals from waste water-A review

Abstract

Globally there is an increasing need for green solutions to environmental challenges. One of the many challenges that plagues our environment is the problem of heavy metals especially those from waste water. Heavy metals are very difficult to remove using simple chemical processes, and when not properly removed during distillation processes it can find its way to drinking water thereby causing serious health challenges like damage of important organs and even cancer. How ubiquitous this problem is and the fact that waste water is part of every thriving urban community calls for very innovative approach to solving this challenge of heavy metals in waste water. This study uses an innovative approach to solving this challenge, by using carbon found in waste tires as an adsorbent for removing heavy metals. Our approach is using a waste material very endemic in our communities to solve another waste material which is causing problem to health and environment. The ripple effect of our approach is that it helps reduce tires waste in our surrounding, while also removing heavy metals from waste water.