Deployment of toxicants laden sorbents in the manufacture of construction materials - A review

The release of effluents from large-scale and small-scale industries has led to greater adverse environmental impact. These effluents comprised of various cations, anions, heavy metals, organics, etc. These toxicants served as nutrients for the growth of plants and microorganisms in the water bodies where they were discharged. The excessive presence of these nutrients caused eutrophication and reduced the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and thus endangered the aquatic life, which inturn reflected on animals and human beings. The effluents also contaminated the ground water table extensively and diminished the sources of freshwater. Among the various pollutants present in the discharges, heavy metals proved to be lethal to all living organisms when they exceed their tolerance levels. Hence, their confiscation employing different methodologies has become inevitable. Among them, adsorption, had been widely reported due to its efficiency and ease in operation. On a larger scale, the disposal of the exhausted sorbents posed a major setback and caused land and air pollution due to landfills and incineration. The metal ions enter the food chain and cause serious health ailments, even bereavement. Therefore, the present review focused on the recent research works where these metal laden composites were utilized in the processing of construction materials. The review's supposition remarks on the containment of the caused secondary pollution. The detention also enhanced the characteristics features of the derived products thereby crafting them viable for additional commercial purposes.