Sustainable Approaches for Wastewater Treatment: An Analysis of Sludge-Based Materials for Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater by Adsorption

R. M. A. S. Dhananjana Rajakaruna, B. G. N. Sewwandi (), Mohamed M. M. Najim, Mirza Barjees Baig, Bader Alhafi Alotaibi and Abou Traore
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R. M. A. S. Dhananjana Rajakaruna: Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka
B. G. N. Sewwandi: Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka
Mohamed M. M. Najim: Faculty of Agriculture, Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, Kampus Sinaut, Km 33, Jalan Tutong, Tutong TB1741, Brunei
Mirza Barjees Baig: Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water & Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Bader Alhafi Alotaibi: Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Society, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Abou Traore: Department of Community Sustainability, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, 328 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-25

Abstract: A comprehensive study incorporating results from different findings related to heavy metal removals from wastewater using sludge as an absorbent will assist researchers and practitioners in planning wastewater treatment processes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive foundation on the potential of using sludge-based materials to remove heavy metals from wastewater based on recent studies. The physicochemical properties of sludge and the nature of metal ions have significantly contributed to the adsorption of heavy metals into sludge-based materials. Many researchers found the effects of pH, temperature, initial heavy metal concentrations, contact time, and adsorbent dose on the adsorption characteristics of heavy metals into sludge-based materials. Isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies have explained the mechanism of heavy metal adsorption by sludge-based materials. The effectiveness of regeneration of sludge-based adsorbents has been investigated by some researchers, providing an environmentally friendly solution to remove heavy metals from wastewater. It was found that less attention has been paid to metal recovery and recycling of sludge-based adsorbents, which indicates the need for future studies to enhance the reusability of sludge in wastewater treatment. Moreover, many studies have been conducted as lab-scale experiments on heavy metal adsorption from aqueous solutions using sludge-based adsorbents, leaving a research gap for future studies to focus on the removal of heavy metals from actual wastewater at field scale.

Keywords: adsorption mechanisms; isotherm models; kinetic models; regeneration; sludge; wastewater treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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