Nanoporous lanthanum tungstate: A viable adsorbent for heavy metals and organic pollutants

Abstract

Removal of heavy metal cations from synthetic and industrial electroplating effluents by means of mesoporous lanthanum tungstate sorbents was thoroughly investigated. Three types of such sorbents, namely I-LT, II-LT and III-LT, uncalcined and calcined, were produced and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption isotherms and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Results of the experiments for chromium, copper, mercury, iron and lead removal from both synthetic and real industrial wastewater solutions, using these novel sorbents, exhibit promising. Details of this new approach towards wastewater treatment have been discussed and the potentials of technological advancement using mesoporous lanthanum tungstate for environmental purposes addressed. Comparison with the literature shows superiority of the produced adsorbents over reported products. © 2010 SIOC, CAS, Shanghai, & WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.