Re-use of industrial wastes for the concentration and elimination of toxic metals from aqueous solutions

Description of impact

Industrial wastes can be valorised by using them as a sorbent of metal ions. During last years, industrial wastes of vegetable origin like grape stalks, cork, yohimbe bark, exhausted coffee and olive stones are investigated for the removal of divalent metals and hexavalent chromium. Also, wastes from the electroplating industries are investigated for the removal of arsenic. The wastes are used in their native form or encapsulated in calcium alginate in order to achieve a higher mechanical strength and facilitate their handling.