Heavy metals removal from food waste water of Raipur area using bioadsorbents

A simple cost effective and eco-friendly method for the remediation of heavy metals from food wastewater has been investigated. A novel biomaterial, Oscimum Sanctum Linn (Tulsi) a medicinal plant, was used for the removal of heavy metals from food wastewater and the method was also applied for real sample analysis. The presence of metal ions in food wastewater is extremely undesirable, as they are toxic to both lower and higher organisms. Under certain environmental conditions, metals may accumulate to toxic levels and cause ecological damage of the important metals, mercury, lead, cadmium, Arsenic, and chromium (VI), regarded as toxic to certain extent, but their extensive usage and increasing levels in the environment are serious concerns. Several bioadsorbents have the ability to remove the heavy metals and thereby making water contaminant free. Therefore, the search for efficient, eco-friendly and cost effective remedies for waste water treatment has been initiated. Recently efforts have been made to use cheap and available agricultural wastes such as coconut shell, orange peel, rice husk, peanut husk and sawdust as adsorbents to remove heavy metals from wastewater. Biosorption can be effective technique for the treatment of heavy metal bearing waste water resulting from human and industrial activities. In the present study the biosorption of heavy metals using the tulsi leaves and parameters affecting the biosorption of heavy metals; such as time, pH, Dosage, rpm, mesh size have been investigated. The present study shows that 80% of biosorption of lead and 60% of cadmium was observed.