Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water
Pollution of water sources with heavy metals is a pressing environmental issue. To this end, various procedures are being used to remediate water, including sorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) for the removal of metals from...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| author | Eirini S. Papadaki Theodoros Chatzimitakos Vassilis Athanasiadis Dimitrios Kalompatsios Eleni Bozinou Paraskevi Mitlianga Stavros I. Lalas |
| author_facet | Eirini S. Papadaki Theodoros Chatzimitakos Vassilis Athanasiadis Dimitrios Kalompatsios Eleni Bozinou Paraskevi Mitlianga Stavros I. Lalas |
| author_sort | Eirini S. Papadaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pollution of water sources with heavy metals is a pressing environmental issue. To this end, various procedures are being used to remediate water, including sorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) for the removal of metals from water. Specifically, HA and FA were examined for their potential to be used as sorbent materials for 26 heavy metals, alkali metals, and alkaline earth metals. HA and FA were isolated from lignite samples from two mines (Mavropigi mine and South Field mine, Kozani, West Macedonia, Greece). Experiments were carried out using natural mineral water without pH adjustment, so as to gain a better overview of the sorption efficiency in real-life samples. The results showed that FAs were able to sorb most of the examined metals compared to HAs. Several metals such as Ba (34.22–37.77%), Ca (99.12–99.58%), and Sr (97.89–98.12%) were efficiently sorbed when 900 ppm of FAs from both sources were used but were not sorbed by HAs from any source (≤0.1%). Due to the functional groups on the surface of FA, it is plausible to conclude that it can remove more metals than HA. Meanwhile, lignite from the South Field mine was found to be more efficient for the sorption efficiency in lower concentrations (300–600 ppm), whereas lignite from the Mavropigi mine was more effective in higher concentrations (900 ppm). For instance, higher removal rates were observed in Mo (62.84%), Pb (56.81%), and U (49.22%) when 300 ppm of HAs of South Field mine were used, whilst the employment of 900 ppm of HAs from Mavropigi mine led to high removal rates of As (49.90%), Se (64.47%), and Tl (85.96%). The above results were also reflected in a principal component analysis, which showed the dispersion of the metal parameters near to or far from the HA and FA parameters depending on their sorption capacity. Overall, both HA and FA could be effectively utilized as sorbent materials for metal removal from water samples. The results of the research indicate a potential application to the remediation of water from metals under dynamic conditions in order to protect public health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:46:15Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-f5c7bc8cf22944da8e82b8fd5cfde9012023-12-22T14:09:53ZengMDPI AGFoundations2673-93212023-12-013478880410.3390/foundations3040044Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in WaterEirini S. Papadaki0Theodoros Chatzimitakos1Vassilis Athanasiadis2Dimitrios Kalompatsios3Eleni Bozinou4Paraskevi Mitlianga5Stavros I. Lalas6Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceLaboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, ZEP Campus, 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreecePollution of water sources with heavy metals is a pressing environmental issue. To this end, various procedures are being used to remediate water, including sorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) for the removal of metals from water. Specifically, HA and FA were examined for their potential to be used as sorbent materials for 26 heavy metals, alkali metals, and alkaline earth metals. HA and FA were isolated from lignite samples from two mines (Mavropigi mine and South Field mine, Kozani, West Macedonia, Greece). Experiments were carried out using natural mineral water without pH adjustment, so as to gain a better overview of the sorption efficiency in real-life samples. The results showed that FAs were able to sorb most of the examined metals compared to HAs. Several metals such as Ba (34.22–37.77%), Ca (99.12–99.58%), and Sr (97.89–98.12%) were efficiently sorbed when 900 ppm of FAs from both sources were used but were not sorbed by HAs from any source (≤0.1%). Due to the functional groups on the surface of FA, it is plausible to conclude that it can remove more metals than HA. Meanwhile, lignite from the South Field mine was found to be more efficient for the sorption efficiency in lower concentrations (300–600 ppm), whereas lignite from the Mavropigi mine was more effective in higher concentrations (900 ppm). For instance, higher removal rates were observed in Mo (62.84%), Pb (56.81%), and U (49.22%) when 300 ppm of HAs of South Field mine were used, whilst the employment of 900 ppm of HAs from Mavropigi mine led to high removal rates of As (49.90%), Se (64.47%), and Tl (85.96%). The above results were also reflected in a principal component analysis, which showed the dispersion of the metal parameters near to or far from the HA and FA parameters depending on their sorption capacity. Overall, both HA and FA could be effectively utilized as sorbent materials for metal removal from water samples. The results of the research indicate a potential application to the remediation of water from metals under dynamic conditions in order to protect public health.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9321/3/4/44heavy metalsalkali metalsalkaline earth metalslignitesorptionmetal removal |
| spellingShingle | Eirini S. Papadaki Theodoros Chatzimitakos Vassilis Athanasiadis Dimitrios Kalompatsios Eleni Bozinou Paraskevi Mitlianga Stavros I. Lalas Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water Foundations heavy metals alkali metals alkaline earth metals lignite sorption metal removal |
| title | Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water |
| title_full | Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water |
| title_short | Assessment of Humic and Fulvic Acid Sorbing Potential for Heavy Metals in Water |
| title_sort | assessment of humic and fulvic acid sorbing potential for heavy metals in water |
| topic | heavy metals alkali metals alkaline earth metals lignite sorption metal removal |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9321/3/4/44 |
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