Application of Algal Nanotechnology for Leather Wastewater Treatment and Heavy Metal Removal Efficiency

Sheza Ayaz Khilji, Neelma Munir, Irfan Aziz, Bareera Anwar, Maria Hasnain, Ali Murad Jakhar, Zahoor A. Sajid, Zainul Abideen (), Muhammad Iftikhar Hussain, Abeer A. El-Habeeb and Hsi-Hsien Yang ()
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Sheza Ayaz Khilji: Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Neelma Munir: Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 35200, Pakistan
Irfan Aziz: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Bareera Anwar: Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Maria Hasnain: Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 35200, Pakistan
Ali Murad Jakhar: Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Pakistan
Zahoor A. Sajid: Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Zainul Abideen: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Muhammad Iftikhar Hussain: Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Universidad de Vigo, Campus Lagoas Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain
Abeer A. El-Habeeb: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Hsi-Hsien Yang: Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Chaoyang University of Technology. No. 168, Jifeng E. Rd., Wufeng District, Taichung 413310, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Wastewater from tanneries may ruin agricultural fields by polluting them with trace metals. The synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) from algal sources and their application could help in decreasing hazardous materials, for environmental safety. The potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles made from Oedogonium sp. was evaluated for removal of heavy metals from leather industrial wastewater. Synthesized algal nanoparticles (0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) were applied to treat wastewater by using different concentrations of leather industrial effluents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 100%) for 15, 30, and 45 d. The wastewater collected was dark brown to black in color with very high pH (8.21), EC (23.08 μs/cm), and TDS, (11.54 mg/L), while the chloride content was 6750 mg/L. The values of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranged between 420 mg/L and 1123 mg/L in the current study. Prior to the application of nanoparticles, Cr (310.1), Cd (210.5), and Pb (75.5 mg/L) contents were higher in the leather effluents. The removal efficiency of TDS, chlorides, Cr, Cd, and Pb was improved by 46.5%, 43.5%, 54%, 57.6%, and 59.3%, respectively, following treatment with 1 mg of nanoparticles after 45 d. Our results suggested that the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles is a useful and ecofriendly biotechnological tool for treating tannery effluents, before they are discharged into water bodies, thus making the soil environment clean.

Keywords: bioremediation; green synthesis; Oedogonium sp.; nanoparticles; wastewater treatment; environmental protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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